THE Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) are intensifying efforts to upgrade regional airports, particularly the expansion of Siargao Airport and the P4.53-billion modernization of Bohol-Panglao International Airport (BPIA).
CAAP in a statement said the move is part of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to improve air travel and boost tourism and economic growth.
Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon, during an inspection of Siargao Airport on June 6, instructed CAAP to ensure that the proposed expansion of the passenger terminal building will comply with aviation safety standards so that more passengers and tourists may be accommodated in the facility once completed by December 2025.
The expansion will increase the current 256 passenger seating capacity to 629.
“We came back here so we can start immediately with the construction of the terminal expansion here in Siargao airport,” the CAAP statement quoted Dizon as saying in Filipino.
Architect Royal Pineda and designer Kenneth Cobonpue joined the site visit, emphasizing the government’s commitment to functional and aesthetic design.
Meanwhile, CAAP in a separate statement said it is preparing for the formal turnover this month of operations and management of the Bohol-Panglao International Airport (BPIA) to Aboitiz InfraCapital under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) program. The transition is part of a broader push to improve airport efficiency and services.
CAAP Director General Del Rosario, during a visit to BPIA on June 5, assured employees that those transitioning to Aboitiz InfraCapital can look forward to enhanced career opportunities and expanded benefits, the statement said.
Those choosing to remain with CAAP will continue to receive support through redeployment to other airports, including newly established facilities such as the upcoming Bukidnon Airport, Del Rosario added.
Within one to two years of takeover, Aboitiz InfraCapital aims to boost BPIA’s current capacity from 2 million to 2.5 million passengers annually, with future expansions pushing capacity to 3.9 million passengers per year by 2030. The upgrade includes expanding the passenger terminal, modernizing aviation systems, and improving both airside and landside facilities.
CAAP said the transition reflects the government’s proven PPP framework already in place at major gateways including Mactan-Cebu, Clark, Caticlan, Laguindingan and NAIA. It said the model accelerates infrastructure development, improves the passenger experience and secures long-term revenue for the government.
