Duterte pursues infra development in Bicol

President Rodrigo Duterte led the ground-breaking ceremony of the Bicol International Airport (BIA) in Barangay Alobo, Daraga, Albay.

The construction of the BIA is one of two major infrastructure proj­ects in the Bicol which was approved for budgeting by the President through the National Economic Development Authority’s (Neda) Invest­ment Coordinating Committee. Once completed, the airport would be the region’s first international airport with the potential of boosting tour­ism and business investment in southern Luzon.

“I am very happy to have laid the ground for your airport. You (Bicol­anos) are very lucky for this airport. During the past, Bicol has not been given good opportunity for infrastructure. We wish to change that,” Mr. Duterte said.

The airport was given a budget of P 708.2 million from the pro­gram amount of P1,554 billion. The project has an estimated construction completion time of two to three years.

According to Mr. Duterte, the BIA is a sign of many more great things to come for the Bicol region in terms of commerce and infrastructure.

Albay second district Rep. Joey Salceda thanked the President for his decisive action in giving the go-signal for the airport’s construction.

He expressed confidence that the international airport will sustain the gains of Albay’s tourism with foreign tourist arrivals shooting up from 8,700 in 2007 to 339,000 in 2015 during his term.

“We want the Bicol region to catch-up on infrastructure. That’s why, in the fullness of God’s time, we would also be able to give you your new railways,” announced the chief executive.

The other project which the President also gave a “green light” for funding is the North-South Railway Project’s (NSRP) South-line, which stretches from Tutuban in Manila to Daraga in Albay and further extend­ing to Matnog in Sorsogon.