MANILA, Philippines — Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez has ordered the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) to allocate between P200 million and P300 million to resolve the issue involving National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) transmission lines that are limiting operations at the Bicol International Airport (BIA).
Lopez said that while BIA has a 2,500-meter runway, only about 1,900 to 2,000 meters are currently usable due to obstruction caused by the transmission lines near the runway.
“The runway of Bicol International Airport is more or less 2,500 meters. It’s a long runway, which can accommodate jet operations. This can help lower airfare for flights using the airport,” Lopez said.
“The main problem now is funding. I already spoke with CAAP to set aside P200 to P300 million to lower the transmission lines and optimize the use of the runway. Hopefully, we can do it within the year,” he added.
Once the issue is resolved, the airport will be able to accommodate international flights. “So we can finally use the airport for its real purpose, which is as an international airport,” Lopez added.
Under a memorandum of agreement, the DOTr, CAAP, and NGCP agreed to address the transmission line problem obstructing the runway. The agreement aims to allow the airport to maximize its full runway length and open it to international operations.