PH airports to get P9.1B in makeovers

THE DEPARTMENT of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) will spend P9.1 billion next year to upgrade the country’s 31 international and domestic airports, a party-list lawmaker said on Sunday.

LPG-MA Rep. Arnel Ty, a deputy House minority leader, welcomed government efforts to improve the airports considering the rise in air travel as a result of lower fuel costs and air fares.

The bulk of the DOTC’s 2016 budget for aviation-related development projects will go to the Panglao International Airport with P2.136 billion, Clark International Airport with P2 billion and Naga Airport with P1 billion, Ty said.

He was citing DOTC figures given during   budget deliberations at the House of Representatives.

“Some of the money will be for new construction and some for continuing projects,” said Ty, a member of the transportation committee.

Explosion in air travel

Earlier, Ty said an “explosion” in domestic and international air travel arising from falling aviation fuel prices would benefit the economy.

He said the two dominant local carriers—Cebu Pacific Air and Philippine Airlines—were offering promotional fares for domestic and international destinations.

“Last year, higher fuel prices accounted for 40 to 49 percent of the operating costs of PAL and Cebu Pacific. This year, lower fuel prices represent just 30 to 39 percent of their operating costs,” Ty said.

“If we look at how Filipinos are spending their savings from cheaper air fares, the money appears to be going mainly to travel-related expenses,” he said.

Ty said among the other airports getting fresh development funding were: Bicol International Airport, P747.4 million; Sanga-Sanga Airport, P577.7 million; Siargao Airport, P264.1 million; Calbayog Airport, P203.6 million; Cauayan Airport, P198.0 million; Tuguegarao Airport, P194.6 million; San Jose Airport, P185.7 million; Zamboanga International Airport, P160.1 million, and Roxas Airport, P95.4 million. DJ Yap