Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said international aviation gateways would be expanded to include Clark, Cebu and Davao once the cities shift to the less strict general community quarantine (GCQ) on June 1.
The move would decongest international landing and take-off at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, as the country braces for more returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
“Mahalaga hong sasabihin namin na as we expand the international aviation gateways, kaakibat po nito `yung plano naming magtayo ng mga test laboratories,” Tugade said.
President Rodrigo Duterte has repeatedly said that more local government units should have better Covid-19 testing capabilities, so OFWs could undergo mandatory testing and quarantine outside Metro Manila.
“Kung darating ho `yung mga pasahero from international sa mga primary gateways na ito, kailangan ho `yung testing facilities nandoon. Kaya nga nagkakapit-bisig ho kami sa Department of Health at Red Cross na kung saan mapadali `yung accreditation ng mga laboratories na ito,” Tugade added.
The Department of Defense also announced that 26,590 repatriated OFWs have been sent home since Duterte gave the order last May 25 to send the workers home within seven days.
The Transport secretary said the government aimed to open more international gateways every one or two weeks after making the shift to GCQ, to include Zamboanga, Bacolod, Iloilo and Bohol.
“Bear in mind that we are an archipelago and therefore it is imperative that we spread the aviation centrum of operations to other parts of the country, other parts of the region kaya nga ho gagamitin ito,” Tugade said.
Domestic flights would be also allowed between GCQ areas using a “hub-and-spoke” system.
“Gusto na natin magkaroon ng hubbing operation sa mga probinsya at rehiyon natin nang sa ganoon ma-spread ang aviation potentials,” Tugade said.
The country expects to receive some 300,000 OFWs within the year.