DBM okays fund for Bicol International Airport development

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MANILA — The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) announced that a Multi-Year Obligational Authority has been issued to the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) in support of the Bicol International Airport Development Project. The new airport in the province of Albay—which will replace the existing airport in Legazpi city—is set to be completed in 2016.

Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad also confirmed the release of a separate MYOA to the DOTC for the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 1 North Extension Project. The project will mainly connect the LRT 1 Roosevelt station with the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) North Avenue Station, among others, and is scheduled to be completed next year.

“The country’s public transportation system has long been due for an overhaul, and we’re making that happen. To date, we’ve given the DOTC the authority to enter into multi-year contracts for the completion of their transport infrastructure projects. This is of course in line with our goal to ramp up infrastructure development towards rapid, sustainable, and inclusive economic expansion,” Abad said.

“The DOTC will finish the construction of the new Albay international airport by the end of President Aquino’s term. Improvements like this will help further economic development in the Bicol region. The new airport would also attract more local and foreign tourists to go out and truly experience what it is like when we say, “it’s more fun in the Philippines,” he added.

Consistent with the 2011-2016 Philippine Development Plan, the MYOA supports the construction of the Bicol International Airport, which aims to provide the Bicol region a safe, efficient, and dependable transportation system that meets international standards and practices.

The total project cost is estimated at P4.7 billion from 2013-2016, with DBM already releasing P150 million for the project this year via the 2014 General Appropriations Act (GAA).

Of the P4.7 billion, a total of P2.1 billion has already been spent from 2007 to 2012 for advance works such as earthworks, right-of-way acquisitions, access road construction, and preliminary detailed engineering.

On the other hand, the other MYOA released for the LRT 1 extension will provide a common station that will connect LRT and MRT for easy passenger transfer. The already completed Balintawak and Roosevelt stations for LRT 1 are also part of the project.

“We understand the challenges that MRT commuters are now facing because of the improvements the government is making in Manila’s major road systems. However, these inconveniences should only be temporary, and the public can definitely expect better transport services as we work on a new interchange station linking the MRT and LRT stations.

“This initiative also ties in with the MYOA we issued last month for the contactless smartcard fare collection system. By enhancing our services, we hope to encourage more motorists to make use of our public transport systems to help ease the traffic situation in the metro,” the Secretary added.

Estimate of the total extension project cost is P1.4 billion, of which the budget department has already released P629 million this year, also from the 2014 GAA. Construction implementation is expected to start by October this year.