Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) officials finally inaugurated the newly-rehabilitated passenger terminal building (PTB) of Kalibo International Airport in Aklan on Friday, June 4.
The inauguration was originally scheduled on Thursday, June 3. However, inclement weather brought by tropical storm "Dante" forced the event to be rescheduled the following day.
On hand during the inauguration were DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade and CAAP Director General Jim Sydiongco.
"CAAP has always aimed to provide the best services to its airports’ patrons. From the reported extreme congestion, dilapidation, and failure in standards and expectations, KIA thrived and befriended the time given by the closure of Boracay Island and this pandemic. Realizing that a long-term solution is needed to develop this aged structure, CAAP, with the staunch direction of DOTr, launched the project to rehabilitate KIA’s grandeur," Sydiongco said in his message.
The construction project had a price tag of P48.4 million. It covers the expansion and improvement of the international PTB, which by itself costs P19.5 million.
Completed on September 15, 2020, the new PTB has a capacity of 406 passengers, up from the previous 344-passenger limit. Its floor area was expanded from 1,584 square meters to 2,633 square meters.
The re-blocking of apron pavement (P9.9 million, completed September 4, 2020), and the overall repair and restoration of the PTB, aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) shed, and admin building (18.9 million, completed June 2 2021) were also carried out under the project.