The Calbayog Airport in Eastern Visayas, which was also hard hit by Tisoy, has been returned to full operation after the reinstallation of all markers and wind cones. #TyphoonTisoy #damagedairports

The damaged areas of Legazpi airport can be repaired and made operational by Monday, 9 December. (GF Baltazar)

MANILA — All airports operated by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) that were affected by the onslaught of Typhoon Tisoy (international name Kammuri) last Tuesday have returned to normal operations on Thursday, 5 December.

In an update sent to Department of Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Director General, Capt. Jim C. Sydiongco, said CAAP Area Center managers in airports in the Eastern Visayas and Southern Luzon have been sending positive updates on the resumption of commercial operations since 3 December.

“Minor damages were already repaired bringing back immediate resumption of normal operations,” Sydiongco said in his update.

“This accomplishment is due to the immediate action and efforts taken by our airport management personnel to clean up and conduct necessary measures in order to accommodate passengers and flights as possible,” Sydiongco added.

Even the Legazpi Airport which sustained major damages due to the typhoon, had resumed commercial operations on 4 December, Wednesday, Sydiongco said.

On Wednesday, Sydiongco, together with CAAP’s chief engineer, the chief of the Air Traffic Service, and a team of aerodrome engineers from the CAAP Central Office, conducted an inspection of the Legazpi Airport and met with CAAP personnel and representatives from the Office of the Transporstation Security (OTS), Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines.

According to Sydiongco, it was determined during their discussion, that a full rehabilitation of the Legazpi Airport would take between 30 to 40 days as the pre-departure area was badly damaged by Tisoy.

Further, Sydiongco said that in order to accommodate full commercial operations while the rehabilitation is ongoing, the international arrival area of the Legazpi Airport has been converted into an interim pre-departure area.

According to Sydiongco, an evaluation made by engineers showed that the damaged areas of the airport can be repaired and made operational by Monday, 9 December.

“We are aiming that through this interim measure, the passenger terminal building (PTB) still can and will be able to accommodate 400 passengers at any given time in case PAL and Cebu Pacific operate at the same time,” said Sydiongco.

In terms of security at the Legazpi Aiport, Sydiongco said the OTS has agreed to do a manual inspection as only one X-ray machine is operational.

To support the OTS personnel, the CAAP will be augmenting its landside and airside security personnel.

As of Wednesday, 4 December, the airport was restored to its capacity as a night rated airport, Sydiongco said.

Meanwhile, the Calbayog Airport in Eastern Visayas, which was also hard hit by Tisoy, has been returned to full operation after the reinstallation of all markers and wind cones.

Sydiongco said debris from the airport’s passenger terminal, the fire station, and at the vertical path angle, were removed by the airport’s firefighters, maintenance and security personnel.

“In fact, a CebGo flight from Mactan was able to successfully land in the airport on December 3,” Sydiongco noted.

In addition, Sydiongco also informed Secretary Tugade that all CAAP operated airports -especially those hit by the typhoon – have been mobilizing their respective Malasakit Help Desks to provide passenger convenience.