Gov’t to complete Tacloban airport rehab in Jan 2015

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) reported on Friday, November 7, that the government has already completed the full rehabilitation of 3 airports and 14 seaports battered by supertyphoon Yolanda (Haiyan) a year ago.

The Tacloban Airport – the gateway that was severely damaged by Yolanda – is set to be fully rehabilitated in January 2015 by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).

The Tacloban Airport rehabilitation costs P44 million ($979,334.41*).

The Tacloban airport now has a refurbished passenger terminal building. New safety and security equipment like 4 x-ray machines and 4 walk-through metal detectors have also been installed. The airport’s Administration and Project Management Office buildings have also been rehabilitated.

Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said the government is hastening the completion of asphalt overlaying at the airport to accommodate large aircraft starting January.

Likewise, the reconstruction of the airport’s fire station and perimeter fence is also ongoing. (READ: Damaged Tacloban airport ‘taking toll’ on region)

Completed, ongoing projects

To date, the government has also completed the rehabilitation of the Kalibo International Airport in April; the Roxas Airport in June; and the Busuanga Airport in October.

The rehabilitation of the Ormoc, Leyte, and Guiuan, Samar, airports is ongoing.

Abaya added that the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has completed the rehabilitation of 14 seaports costing P41.2 million ($918,296.73) for the rehabilitation of causeways and seawalls and the construction of access roads and storage facilities.

 The completely rehabilitated seaports include:

• The port of Naval in Biliran
• The ports of Danao, San Carlos, and Pulupandan in Negros Occidental
• The ports of Coron, Culion, Cuyo, and El Nido in Palawan
• The port of Matnog in Sorsogon
• The ports of Legazpi, Tabaco, and Pasacao in Albay;
• The port of Maasin in Southern Leyte
• The port of Sta Fe in Bantayan, Cebu

To date, the DOTC and PPA still have 44 more port rehabilitation projects, either ongoing or in the pipeline.

The Cebu Ports Authority, meanwhile, has a remaining project for Poro Port.

The Philippine Coast Guard has 14 projects lined up. – Rappler.com

For Rappler’s full coverage of the 1st anniversary of Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), go to this page.

*($1 = P44.87)