The aviation sector is primed for take-off as the Department of Transportation (DoTr) has launched a massive campaign to modernize airports throughout the country.

After decades of trying to modernize and rehabilitate the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), the highly-touted and highly-anticipated modernization of the country’s main gateway has become a reality.

Tasked to upgrade the NAIA, the San Miguel Corp.-led New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC) bagged the 15-year concession deal to rehabilitate, modernize and upgrade the airport.

With the urgency of improving the airport and its services due to high demand in air travel, Secretary Jaime Bautista expressed confidence that the NNIC will accomplish the task of a new and modernized NAIA.

Enhancing connectivity

Part of the agency’s campaign to improve connectivity and mobility as well as drive economic growth in provinces is the modernization of regional airports.

Serving as Northern Mindanao’s main gateway since 2013, the Laguindingan International Airport’s operations and maintenance will be turned over to Aboitiz InfraCapital to upgrade, expand, operate, and maintain the airport, and construction of new Passenger Terminal Building (PTB).

Under a 30-year arrangement, Aboitiz InfraCapital will also take on the responsibility of the operations and management of the Bohol-Paglao International Airport. Once its modernization is complete, the modernized Bohol-Paglao International Airport can accommodate 3.9 million passengers and 35,000 air traffic movement annually.

These projects are evidence of the DoTr’s 126 years of unwavering commitment to provide Filipinos a comfortable, accessible, safe, secure and affordable travel experience through an elevated and globally competitive transport system.