Palace vows to improve airports, infrastructure

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang yesterday gave assurance that the improvement of the country’s airports and other infrastructure is continuing as the government pushes for the “Visit the Philippines” campaign this year.

This coincides with the visit of Pope Francis next week and the country’s hosting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.

Airline ticket prices are expected to ease as early as next week as the government scraps the fuel surcharge on domestic and international flights operating in the Philippines because of the sharp decline in global crude oil prices. 

And after several postponements, the Manila International Airport Authority is set to implement the integration of the P550 terminal fee in airline tickets, effective Feb. 1.

Deputy presidential spokesman Abigail Valte said the government had long worked on tourism convergence plan involving the Department of Tourism, the Department of Transportation and Communications and the Department of Public Works and Highways for the country’s tourism infrastructure.

She said there were a lot of invitations to bid, notice of award and others being published for the upgrading of the airports.

“The rehabilitation of the NAIA-1 (Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1) is ongoing. We continually take steps to improve the services in the airports,” Valte said.

She said six big airlines had transferred operations from NAIA-1 to NAIA-3, which was also being improved in terms of facilities.

“So, hopefully, all of these efforts and these steps will contribute to making the visit to the Philippines really more fun for our guests,” she said.

On Friday, President Aquino led the inauguration of government’s infrastructure projects.

Aquino conducted aerial inspection of a section of the Romblon-Sawang-Agpanabat Provincial Road.

Aquino said local residents, including fishermen, would benefit from the project.

Travel time along the road will be cut from one hour to 30 minutes, he said.

Aquino said this will benefit the fishermen in their effort to bring fresh catch to the markets and for the safety of school children.

Aquino said the approved budget for the project was P61.89 million but after following a judicious and honest bidding process, only P56.63 million was spent. The project is expected to be finished by March.

While in Romblon, Aquino also led the ceremonial unveiling of the marker of Buildings I and II of the Romblon Provincial Hospital. The upgraded RPH, located in Odiongan, serves 17 municipalities with a population of around 350,000.

Aquino said the hospital was upgraded under the Health Facilities Enhancement Program of the Department of Health.

Aquino also enumerated other ongoing projects intended to improve accessibility and to boost trade and tourism.

The President cited the Sibuyan Circumferential Road, the San Jose Circumferential Road, the Sta. Fe-Guinbirayan Provincial Road and the Romblon-Cogon-Sablayan Road.