The Transportation department and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines inaugurated on Friday the newly rehabilitated passenger terminal building of Kalibo International Airport in Aklan, which was rebuilt to accommodate more passengers and provide safer and more secured travel.
The P48.4 million project covers the expansion and improvement of the terminal building, re-blocking of apron pavement, and the improvement of rescue and firefighting shed, and administration building.
“The important thing is the revitalization and the credibility of our President’s mandate—make the Filipino life comfortable and convenient, safe,” said Transportation secretary Arthur Tugade. CAAP director general Jim Sydiongco said the terminal building was expanded from 1,584 sqm. to 2,633 sqm. and its its capacity increased from 344 to 406 passengers, providing additional spaces for the operation of the Bureau of Customs, Immigration, pre-screening, and check-in areas, and additional exterior and interior waiting and queue areas for passengers.
“CAAP has always aimed to provide the best services to its airports’ patrons. From the reported extreme congestion, dilapidation, and failure in standards and expectations, KIA thrived and befriended the time given by the closure of Boracay Island and this pandemic.
Realizing that a long-term solution is needed to develop this aged structure, CAAP, with the staunch direction of DOTr, launched the project to rehabilitate KIA’s grandeur,” he said.
The re-blocking of KIA’s apron will help eliminate the potential hazard for aircraft parked at the old apron. While the overall repair and restoration of KIA has improved and restored KIA’s look and facilities as a whole.
CAAP spokesperson Eric Apolonio said the inauguration was originally scheduled on June 3. However, due to inclement weather brought by tropical storm Dante, it was rescheduled the following day.
The facility serves the general area of Kalibo, the capital of Aklan province, and is one of two airports serving the island of Boracay, the other being Caticlan Airport in the municipality of Malay.
“With the influx of passengers transiting in the airport, the development project was completed to cater to more passengers at a given time, and to provide a more safe, secured, and convenient travel,” said Apolonio.
The government was pushing to have more improved commercial airports before President Duterte ends his six-year term.
CAAP also aimed to complete the night-rating of at least 13 airports in the country next year.
At present, the country has at least 22 airports with night-rating capability out of a total of 42 nationwide.
These include the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Clark International Airport, Davao International Airport, Kalibo International Airport, Laoag International Airport, Mactan-Cebu International Airport, Puerto Princesa International Airport, General Santos International Airport, Zamboanga International Airport, Iloilo International Airport, Bacolod-Silay Airport, Butuan Airport, Laguindingan Airport, Tacloban Airport, Roxas Airport, Dumaguete Airport, Caticlan Airport, and Legazpi Airport.
