By Raydes Barcia
Legazpi City—Starting next month, the airbus flights of Cebu Pacific will resume and land over the country’s scenic gateway, the Bicol International Airport (BIA) in Barangay Alobo, Daraga town.
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines in Bicol has announced the resumption of Cebu Pacific Airbus flights at Bicol International Airport (BIA) after the Interagency Task Force lowered the pandemic alert level status from level 2 to level 1 in Bicol Region.
In a letter sent to Cynthia M. Tumanut, CAAP Bicol area manager of Bicol International Airport by Merry Hope A Mirano, Cebu Pacific Air station head-1aviation on Monday said that beginning May 1, 2022, airbus flights will resume in the country’s most scenic international gateway.
The Cebupac management is catering five flights daily in Legazpi-Manila vice versa and one flight from Cebu-Legazpi vice versa from Monday and Friday only.
But as the IATF watered down the alert level 1, the CEB also announced the additional two more flights from Cebu-Legazpi and vice versa on Wednesday and Sunday.
Since the opening of Bicol International Airport last October 8, 2021, the new airport has been catering to propeller aircrafts of two major airlines, the Philippine Airline and Cebu Pacific due to limited number of passengers following pandemic protocols.
But as the pandemic cases dwindled, tourist arrivals are significantly increasing. Bicol International Airport (BIA) in Daraga town, Albay province, the first international airport south of Metro Manila.
Salceda said that the opening of the BIA will help the region’s economy bounce back from the pandemic that resulted in unemployment and closure of business establishments.
“Our economy is badly affected by the global pandemic but domestic tourism is still the driver of our economy and Albay is in an advantageous position as it will be the hub in Southern Luzon due to its strategic location,” the lawmaker said.
The international airport, which features the iconic Mayon Volcano for its backdrop, is expected to serve a total of two million passengers annually and boost air traffic in the region.
Salceda said that Aboitiz is interested in managing the BIA while Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines are also eyeing the international airport as a hub in Southern Luzon.
The construction of BIA was conceptualized during the imcumbensy of Albay governor Al Francis Bichara in mid 90’s but materialized after more than 20 years.
The international airport started construction in 2008 under then president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo but was put on hold following slow release of budget and political differences.
Former president Benigno Aquino picked up the project but was unable to complete it under his term. When President Rodrigo Duterte took the helm, he certified the construction of the airport as his priority project under the “Build Build Build” program.
Duterte personally visited the unfinished BIA following his election in 2016 and directed Tugade to expedite its construction.
BIA took 11 years to complete under three administrations.
“Construction works were delayed for 11 years. It went through three groundbreaking ceremonies prior to this administration. While we were building it, it also suffered arson incidents [perpetrated by rebels],” Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade Tugade said.
Tugade said that BIA would be ready for international flights this year subject to International Civil Aviation Organization review. Once fully operational, BIA is expected to accommodate a total of 2 million passengers annually.
BIA sits on a 148-hectare area with a 2,500-meter runway strip, equipped with night landing capability and take-off facilities, air traffic control tower, passenger and cargo terminal, car park, fire station, and other facilities.
The National Economic and Development Authority in Bicol reported that the government, from BIA’s conceptualization until construction between 2009 and 2021, had spent nearly P4 billion for the project. (Raydes Barcia)