MANILA, PHILIPPINES —The Department of Transportation (DOTr) plans to build more airports under the administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

Transportation Undersecretary Timothy Batan disclosed that the DOTr is looking at building new airports in Zamboanga, Dumaguete, Masbate, and Bukidnon, among other provinces and towns.

During the Laging Handa briefing on Wednesday, DOTr Undersecretary for Planning and Project Development Timothy John Batan said, “The construction of new airports in Zamboanga, Dumaguete, Masbate, and Bukidnon is being studied.”

Zamboanga, Dumaguete, and Masbate already have existing airports, while a new airport in Don Carlos, Bukidnon, is targeted to open in 2023.

“Ang objective natin diyan ay magkaroon ng mas safe at mas malawak na reach ang ating mga airports at nang tayo ay makapag-accommodate ng mas maraming flight sa mga pasahero,” Batan said.

(Our objective is for our airports to have safer and wider reach so we can accommodate more flights for passengers.)

Batan added that the Marcos administration would also focus on constructing the New Manila International Airport in Bulacan and developing Sangley Airport in Cavite into an international gateway.

“Kasama sa mga prayoridad ng ating administrasyon ang pagtatayo ng bagong international airport na magseserbisyo sa Kamaynilaan,” he said.

(Included in our administration’s priorities is building new international airports to serve Metro Manila.)

The adoption of biometrics and self-service check-in counters in other local airports is also part of the DOTr’s plans to modernize the aviation sector in the country.

“Tulad nga ng sinasabi ni Secretary [Jaime] Bautista, ang ating layunin sa Kagawaran ng Transportasyon ay makapaghatid ng isang affordable, convenient, safe, at accessible na transport service para sa ating mga kababayan,” he shared.

(Like Secretary Bautista has said, our objective in the Department of Transportation is to deliver affordable, convenient, safe, and accessible transport service for our fellow Filipinos.)

Marcos vowed in his first State of the Nation Address to build more international airports under his watch to boost the country’s tourism sector. – WhatALife!/Zed

Source: (1), (2)

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