Department of Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista leads the groundbreaking ceremony of the Laguindingan Airport Expansion Project in Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental, on Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024. (Franck Dick Rosete)
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has rolled out rehabilitation and modernization projects in key airports across the country in a bid to improved air connectivity and mobility amid the aggressive drive for tourism and investments.
DOTr Secretary Jaime J. Bautista said the rehabilitation and modernization efforts include Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), baskets of improvements at Clark International Airport (CRK), and the land development for the building of the New Manila International Airport in Bulacan.
“The vision is to make the Philippine archipelago more connected and world-class than ever with improved air connectivity and mobility. This is the reason why we are relentless and fully committed to building new gateways and modernizing the existing ones,” said Bautista.
In Northern Mindanao, Bautista led the groundbreaking ceremony for the expansion of the Passenger Terminal Building of the Laguindingan Airport in Misamis Oriental.
He said the project is expected to bring socio-economic benefits in the province and other neighboring areas in Northern Mindanao: "The upcoming expansion project will not only provide better passenger experience but will also push further our goals towards sustainability.”
Once completed, he said the expansion of the Laguindingan Airport will further increase its pre-departure terminal capacity to 860 passengers daily from its current 500 passengers.
According to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), the expanded PTB of the gateway will utilize an innovative modular construction system.
Such strategy combines sustainability and cost-effectiveness, providing flexibility in design, swift construction, cost efficiency, and environmentally conscious choices, CAAP added.
The PTB expansion is expected to serve additional passengers after several national and local officials clamored for the opening of international flights in Laguindingan Airport.
Laguindingan Airport is an airport in Northern Mindanao that caters to the cities of Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, and Marawi, as well as the provinces of Misamis Oriental, Lanao del Norte, and Bukidnon.
The gateway is the second busiest airport in Mindanao and the sixth busiest airport in the country, servicing an estimated two million passengers annually.
Bautista said improvement projects will also be conducted at the Bohol-Panglao, Zamboanga, General Santos, Virac, Puerto Princesa, Ormoc, Calbayog, Dumaguete, Catarman, Butuan and Camiguin.