Tugade orders immediate rehabilitation of Zamboanga airport

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade has ordered the immediate rehabilitation of Zamboanga International Airport (ZIA), after being dismayed during an onsite inspection over the weekend.

In an emailed statement Monday, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said Tugade inspected the airport Sunday morning, but was shocked by what he saw.

“Nakakadismaya! Hindi matanggap ng kalooban ko na ganito ang sitwasyon ng airport na ginagamit ng mga Zamboangeño. Dagdagan pa natin ang atensyong dapat na maibigay sa Zamboanga,” he said.

Tugade found that passenger seats in boarding areas were lacking and the baggage carousel was in a “sorry state.”

Tugade also saw multiple potholes as deep as 2 inches from the end of Runway 09 to Runway 27.

The Cabinet official gave ZIA officials an ultimatum to “immediately” begin working on the asphalt overlay of the entire runway and seal the cracks.

“Pagbalik ko at hindi pa maayos ang Zamboanga Airport, pag-uuntugin ko mga ulo ninyo. Sisiguraduhin kong may mananagot dito,” he said.

According to the DOTr, the P160-million budget for the asphalt overlay was awarded earlier this year but the winning bidder has not yet been given the notice to proceed.

Tugade ordered the airport buy gang chairs and baggage carousels to improve the state of the airport.

He also instructed the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines to restrict the handling area of Cebu Pacific Cargo—the air cargo service of the budget carrier—to authorized personnel.

DOTr spokesperson Goddes Libiran told GMA News Online that security concerns were the reason for setting restrictions at the Cebu Pacific facility.

“Masyadong open ‘yung cargo handling area nila. Secretary Tugade basically wants them to enhance security measures on the acceptance and release of cargoes,” she said. —VDS, GMA News