DOTr, CAAP working to normalize Legazpi City airport ops – Salceda

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) are working to resume normal operations at the typhoon-damaged Legazpi City airport in Albay by Wednesday morning, Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Salceda said Tuesday.

Photo from CAAP /DOTr

The former Albay governor said he has coordinated with Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade and CAAP chief Jim Sydiongco regarding the resumption of operations in the airport which was severely damaged by the onslaught of Typhoon Tisoy.

READ: LOOK: Legazpi airport sustains damage as Tisoy barrels across PH

Salceda said the agencies would send a team to backstop the Legazpi airport personnel.  CAAP has also assured it has emergency corporate powers and funds.

“Restoration works should start quickly,” Salceda appealed in a statement.

“The airport is the first face of Albay/Legazi so I told him it should not become the image of Tisoy destruction but the icon of Albay resilience,” he added.

As of posting time. Tisoy slightly weakened as it heads towards the Batangas and northern Oriental Mindoro area  with maximum sustained winds of 150 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 205 kph. 

READ: Tisoy lightly reduces strength as it heads to Batangas-N. Oriental Mindoro

Tisoy has made two landfalls in Gubat, Sorsogon, on Monday night and in Marinduque at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Due to the typhoon, terminals 1 to 4 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport were also shut down for 12 hours from 11:00 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Tuesday.

READ: NAIA Terminals 1 to 4 closed from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Dec. 3 due to Typhoon Tisoy

GSG