The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) is spending P160 million to improve  and rehabilitate key airports in major tourist destinations in the country.

The agency said upgrades to airports in San Vicente in Palawan, Kalibo in Aklan, and Sanga-Sanga in Tawi-Tawi will include improvements to airside development and terminal facilities.

“These airport development projects are in support of the huge potential of tourism in the country’s economy, and in the more important goal of creating jobs and livelihood opportunities for the people,” the DOTC said in a statement.

The DOTC has allocated P72.35 million for the San Vicente project to complete the runway extension, pave the runway, remove a hill obstruction and construct a parking area, perimeter fence, and pedestrian and vehicular gates.

Last month, the DOTC also announced bidding for the construction of a new passenger terminal building for the airport.

With San Vicente's white sand beaches and proximity to El Nido, the town is highly touted as the country's next big tourist destination.

The DOTC is spending another P59.49 million to complete the runway asphalt overlay, concrete paving of apron expansion with the taxiway, and security fence construction at the Kalibo International Airport, one of the country's busiest terminals.

The department is also set to bid out the P29-million construction of a car park area, a drainage system, and perimeter and security fences at the Sanga-Sanga Airport in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi.

The DOTC invited bidders to participate in an open and transparent bidding for the airport's site development as well as the construction of a new passenger terminal building.

The Philippines' tourism sector continues to boom as tourist arrivals rose 14 percent year-on-year to more than 1.8 million in the first five months of 2012.

Government sees tourist arrivals jumping 24.3 percent to 4.6 million this year from a record 3.7 million last year. — BM/VS, GMA News