Tugade sees more tourism opportunities for Samar after Calbayog airport upgrade

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade sees more room for economic growth, trade expansion, and tourism in Samar province following the modernization and improvement of the Calbayog Airport.

The Department of Transportation and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines led the inauguration of the development projects in Calbayog Airport on Wednesday.

The development projects involve the construction of a new passenger terminal building.

With the completion of the project, the Calbayog Airport terminal can now accommodate 450 passengers, increasing its previous 76-passenger capacity.

Tugade also stressed the need to develop transport infrastructure projects such as airports amid the pandemic "so that every region in the country will be equipped with the necessary instrument crucial for recovery and continuous growth."

“Dapat lang na balansehin natin ‘yung tinatawag na pangangailangan ng health protocols sa pangangailangan ng paglago ng ekonomiya (We need to balance the need for health protocols and the need to reopen the economy),” Secretary Tugade said in a statement.

“Ginagawa natin ang paliparan na ito, upang pagdating ng tinatawag na ‘new normal’, andiyan na ang pasilidad upang sa ganoon, ang negosyo, ang pagbiyahe ng ating mga kababayan, at ang pag-unlad ng negosyo ay nakakasa na (We upgraded this airport so that when new normal comes, the facility is already there for business and travel),” Tugade added.

The DOTr said the development of the Calbayog Airport is expected to help further boost economic activities in Region VIII. -MDM, GMA News