The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has allocated around P14 billion to rehabilitate and modernize as many regional airports, particularly those with access to major tourist spots of the country.

DOTr Secretary Jaime J. Bautista said the fund will come from the 2024 national budget and will be reinforced with airport development projects under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) scheme with financial support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the International Finance Corporation of the World Bank.

The P14 billion budget allocation covers improvements of the Catbalogan, Tacloban, Laoag, Puerto Princesa, Kalibo, lloilo, and 16 other airports nationwide.

On the other hand, those which will be covered by the PPP are airports in Bohol, Siargao, Bacolod-Silay, Davao, and Iloilo.

“Our goal is to make the Philippine archipelago more connected and world-class than ever with improved air connectivity and mobility. this is what the Department of Transportation has envisioned for the country’s aviation and airports sector,” said Bautista.

Aside from regional airports, Bautista said rehabilitation and modernization efforts have also been rolled out for the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) the Clark International Airport (CRK), and the land development for the building of the New Manila International Airport in Bulacan.