The construction of the Bicol International Airport (BIA) is moving at a fast pace, recording a 72.2 percent overall progress rate, the Department of Transportation (DOTR) said.
final stages of construction in Daraga, Albay. Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said that construction of BIA will be completed
within the year.
Actual construction of the airport only started in December 2016.
A statement from the DOTR said that as of Jan. 13, Package 2A of the BAI development project is now 88.2 percent complete.
Construction work in Package 2A is being handled by the Sunwest Construction and Development Corp. and covers the airport’s landside facilities, such as the Administration BuildingAir Traffic Control Building, Crash Fire Rescue Building, and the Maintenance Building.
Package 2B of the airport project, meanwhile, is now 49.5 percent complete. Package 2B which is being handled by the E.M. Cuerpo Construction Company, covers the passenger terminal building (PTB), taxiway, runway extension, and other site development works.
Once completed, the BIA, which features the iconic Mayon Volcano as its magnificent backdrop, is expected to serve two million airline passengers every year.
The new international airport is also projected to boost air traffic in the region amid the existing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
The BIA initially started construction in 2008. However, development works were uncompleted until 2012.
In 2016, the airport's Package 2A and 2B projects were continued as an important component of the Duterte Administration’s “Build, Build, Build” program.
Secretary Tugade stressed the importance of having continuous transport infrastructure developments such as the BIA, which will prove vital as the country starts recovering from the impact of COVID-19.
“It can’t be denied that the aviation sector has been one of the hardest hit by the pandemic. That’s why it is important that we finish the airport at the soonest possible time, as this will absolutely give the economy a boost. Gusto ko matapos ‘yan within the year dahil gusto na natin itong agad na mapakinabangan ng ating mga kababayan. As we ready for take-off, kung baga, dapat all systems go,” the transportation chief emphasized.