Department of Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said that inter-island connectivity will only be achieved with the establishment of more airports, as it will guarantee improved accessibility and efficient mobility throughout the country.

The Transport secretary shared during the 2023 Aviation Summit that transforming our airports through expansion, upgrade and rehabilitation is not only at the core of this administration's thrust on infrastructure development but also crucial to connecting the country to the rest of the world.

Bautista stressed that these airports must adapt to technological innovation without sacrificing the safety of passengers.

The Transport secretary also provided aviation stakeholders with an update on Department of Transportation projects during the summit, particularly the upgrading of Ninoy Aquino International Airport, which was the subject of an airport pre-bid conference with potential concessionaires last week.

According to Secretary Bautista, the airport's passenger capacity and air traffic flow will both rise once the privatization of NAIA under a public-private partnership plan is complete.

Also part of the DoTr's aviation projects are the New Manila International Airport and Sangley Point Airport in Cavite.