DOTr mulls building new airports in four provinces

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is planning to construct new airports in at least four provinces in the southern Philippines.

“Pinag-aaralan ang pagtatayo ng mga bagong paliparan sa Zamboanga, Dumaguete, Masbate, at Bukidnon,” Transportation Undersecretary for Planning and Project Development Timothy John Batan said during the Laging Handa briefing.

(The construction of new airports in Zamboanga, Dumaguete, Masbate, and Bukidnon is being studied.)

Batan said the DOTr is also looking at building new airports in other provinces and towns.

He added that the agency will also focus on the construction of the New Manila International Airport in Bulacan and the proposal of the Cavite provincial government to develop Sangley Airport into an international gateway.

“Ang objective natin diyan ay magkaroon ng mas safe at mas malawak na reach ang ating mga airports at nang tayo ay makapag accommodate nang mas maraming flights at mga pasahero sa ating mga airport,” Batan said.

(The objective of this is for our airports to be safer and have wider reach and to accommodate more flights and passengers.)

The Transportation official added that the DOTr will also improve passenger experience in existing airports through using the latest technology such as biometrics and self check-in kiosks. —LBG, GMA News