Salceda confident Duterte admin can complete Bicol Int’l Airport

LEGAZPI CITY - Albay 2nd District Representative Joey Salceda on Thursday said he is confident that the Duterte administration could revive and complete the stalled Bicol

International Airport project and further lift Bicol tourism. Since the project broke ground in 2005, it is only 52.50 percent complete as of November 30, 2018.

Salceda said that only the construction of the runway, taxiway apron and perimeter fence and airstrips have been completed.

The detailed engineering and construction supervision is only 52.50 percent complete, while the construction of landslide facilities (site development and other buildings) - Pack 2A is 47 percent complete.

The Passenger Terminal Building is only eight percent complete.

“Nakakahiya na naunahan pa ng Panglao na nagsimula nung 2012 samantalang nagsimula ang Bicol International Airport nung 2005 pa. It truly reflects that we have lost our national capacity to execute big-ticket projects since Marcos era and there is reasonable optimism that the executive decisiveness of the Duterte administration could restore that and deliver the Bicol International Airport vital to the main potential of Bicol - tourism”, Salceda said.

During the meeting of the Committee on Transportation, Briefing and Update on Bicol International Airport last Wednesday, Salceda said that the Department of Transportation (DOTR) is looking at the airport’s opening in 2020.

Salceda said he is confident that the R4.798-billion project will be completed before the end of President Duterte’s term.