Bicol International Airport to be completed by yearend despite Rolly's onslaught —Tugade

The P4.978-billion Bicol International Airport Development Project is on track to be completed by the December 31 deadline as Typhoon Rolly (international name: Goni) brought only "minimal" damages.

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade on Monday said that the deadline for the project will push through, even as the contractor for the project requested for the deadline to be moved to the first quarter of 2021.

"Sabi ko the deadline is the deadline without sacrificing quality and incurring additional costs. The deadline of completing the new Bicol International Airport will be completed on the schedule which we have set, notwithstanding the arrival of Rolly," he said in a briefing with President Rodrigo Duterte.

With funding through the General Appropriations Act (GAA), the Bicol International Airport Development Project aims to develop a new gateway in Daraga, Albay with international standards to replace the existing Legaspi Airport.

It will be able to accommodate bigger aircraft to service the growing volume of passengers, and enhance the efficiency, reliability, and safety standards of air transportation in the region.—LDF, GMA News