THE Department of Transportation (DoTr) said Thursday that it inaugurated the rehabilitated passenger terminal and extended runway at Marinduque Airport.
In a joint statement with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), the DoTr said the combined P21.9-million development project positions the airport to receive more flights.
“The government recognizes that developing an airport such as that of Marinduque’s will provide a boost to the province’s trade, economy, and tourism,” the DoTr said.
The P9-million passenger terminal building rehabilitation was completed last month, while the P12.8-million runway extension was finished last November.
Ahead of the inauguration on April 1, Cebu Pacific subsidiary Cebgo started using the refurbished airport by mounting thrice weekly flights to and from Manila.
“The rehabilitation project improved the 560-square meter passenger terminal building by dropping the height of its ceiling, installing air-conditioning units and X-ray machines, and replacing its accordion walls with glass walls, making it more convenient, safer, and more secure,” it said.
“(The runway extension) increased the usable runway length to 1,533 meters of concrete from the previously 1,400 meters. The concreting enabled the airport to accommodate turbo prop aircraft such as ATR and Q400,” it added.
Marinduque Airport is located in the town of Gasan and is the only such facility on the island of Marinduque. — Denise A. Valdez
