The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) is inviting local and foreign firms to bid for the contract to construct, expand and improve the passenger and airport traffic handling capacity of seven provincial airports.
The Php 303-million project involves airports in San Vicente in Palawan; Pagadian City in Zamboanga del Sur; Butuan City in Agusan del Norte; Dipolog City in Zamboanga del Norte; Sanga-Sanga in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi; Cotabato City in Maguindanao; and Maasin in Southern Leyte.
Through the project the government vows to improve the airports in these areas where trade and tourism have been in an upswing for the past year.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the project is a part of the administration’s campaign to increase the tourism potential of the Philippines. Valte also said the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) has embarked on measures to balance the interests between airline companies and passengers.
Meanwhile, DOTC Secretary Manuel Roxas II said the multimillion project aims to support growth in the tourism and business activities in the countryside. He added that more commercial establishments, factories and industrial plants are expected to be built in the areas thus resulting in the creation of more jobs for rural folks.