DOTr to open two projects

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The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is set to unveil today two transport infrastructure projects in Visayas that are expected to help boost tourism in the region.

DOTr said the first to be inaugurated is the upgraded Siquijor Airport with a new passenger terminal building (PTB), powerhouse and vehicular parking area.

The airport upgrade was started in March 2018 and completed last month.

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Siquijor Airport’s new PTB can accommodate 60 passengers at any given time. However, due to the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases’ strict protocol on social distancing to contain the spread of the coronavirus, only 40 passengers will be served by the new PTB. Prior to the upgrade, the PTB of the airport can only accommodate 10 passengers.

Repair and maintenance of the perimeter fence and construction of concrete pathwalk, runway provision, and taxiway and apron markings were also completed ahead of time.

DOTr said more developments are eyed for the airport including the asphalt overlay and extension of the runway.

Another project to be unveiled is the upgraded Siquijor Port which covers the construction of an RC Wharf with roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) ramp, a back-up area and a port lighting system, the agency added.

The seaport project was also started three years ago and completed last March.

With its improved facilities, the port now allows faster turnaround time for vessels and shorter waiting period for passengers and shippers, and reduces the queueing of rolling cargoes.

Prior to the upgrade, the Siquijor Port can only service a maximum of four ferries. The completed renovation works allows it to serve up to eight vessels with provision to handle a 65-meter cargo ship and can service two Ro-Ro vessels at the same time.

In addition, the upgraded Siquijor Port will also boost equitable and inclusive growth in the areas of employment, local trade and investments, DOTr said.

The project was able to generate 35 jobs during the construction and now with the upgradedone, it is expected to give residents of the province more job opportunities, particularly in the tourism sector and other tourism-related industries.

As of June this year, DOTr said it has completed 214 airport and 451 seaport projects, and over 200 projects are under construction.

The completed airport projects include Clark International Airport’s new PTB, Mactan-Cebu International Airport, Bohol-Panglao International Airport, Sangley, Kalibo, Dumaguete, Ormoc, Tuguegarao, Camiguin, Tacloban, General Santos, Catanduanes, Zamboanga, Calbayog andthe Communications, Navigation and Surveillance Systems for Air Traffic Management, among others.

For maritime, the projects were the Port of Cagayan de Oro, the country’s biggest port PTB; Currimao Port in Ilocos Norte; Victoria Port in Laguna; the Ports of Tagbilaran, Tubigon and Maribojoc in Bohol; the Ports of Borac, San Fernando and Bataraza in Palawan; the Ports of Dumaguete, Limasawa and Ormoc; and the Ports of General Santos, Babak in Davao Del Norte, Cantillan in Surigao in Mindanao; and more.

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