The Bicol International Airport in Daraga, Albay, is set to open its doors when it makes its first flight on Thursday, October 7.
Called the “Most Scenic Gateway” with the Mayon Volcano as its backdrop, the Bicol International Airport is a long-overdue project in the making — construction was delayed for 11 years and had already undergone three groundbreaking ceremonies, according to the Department of Transportation’s official Facebook page.
The BIA will be ready to serve domestic passengers on October 7 flights, while the airport will be ready to begin international operations on November 7 “subject to airline’s application to operate international flights”, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Chief of Staff Danjun Lucas.
DOTr Secretary Art Tugade, who inspected the airport, said in a statement that he took the construction of the airport as a personal challenge.
“Habang itinatayo natin, nagkaroon pa ng mga arson incidents! Now, construction of the Bicol International Airport is almost complete.” (While we were building it, there were even arson incidents that happened! Now, construction of the Bicol International Airport is almost complete.)
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