The breathtaking Bicol International Airport (BIA) has just been "beaten" by the new and improved General Santos City (GSC) Airport, according to President Duterte.
In what's otherwise a throwaway line during his speech Monday afternoon, Nov. 22 at GSC Airport in South Cotabato, Mindanao, Duterte casually described the site as being "better" than the airport in Bicol.
At that time, he was discussing airport development projects during his tenure as President.
"Eh makita mo naman ‘yung airport. Ang Davao hindi nakalahati. Doon sa Bicol mayroon silang kasing ganda rin pero mas maganda ‘to, mas malaki (You can see the airport. The one in Davao wasn't even half-finished. In Bicol, they have something as beautiful but this is better, this is bigger)," Duterte said, referring to the GSC Airport.
"Pero contactless tapos lahat-lahat na, the --- lahat ng kinakailangan ng modern airport (But it's contactless and has everything that a modern airport needs)," the Chief Executive noted.
The 76-year-old leader inaugurated the BIA--dubbed "the most scenic gateway" of the Philippines--last Oct. 7 in what could be tagged as the current administration's final push of its "Build, Build, Build" initiative. It was the only airport that he inaugurated in Bicol the past few months.
To say that the General Santos airport bested its counterpart in Daraga, Albay is a big deal, especially given how enamored and proud Duterte was with the BIA.
Duterte was in GSC Monday to inaugurate the completed airport and seaport development projects there.
These projects include the expansion and rehabilitation of the existing passenger terminal building (PTB), installation of navigational aids, and construction of an administration building at the local airport.
According to the Department of Transportation (DOTr), the expanded PTB can now accommodate around two million passengers per year, compared to the previous capacity of 800,000 passengers annually.
Duterte will step down from Malacañang on June 30, 2022. He is gunning for a Senate seat in next year's polls.