The new Port of Dumaguete two-story operations building.
President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday inaugurated the P258.8-million Dumaguete-Sibulan Airport rehabilitation project and the P114-million Port of Dumaguete operations building.
Duterte lauded the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) for the completion of the projects despite the pandemic.
“I hope that this project will inspire and provide better services and opportunities for our people and harness the potential of trade and tourism as a catalyst for economic recovery particularly in the provinces,” Duterte said in his speech.
Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade said the new facilities would make it more convenient for the public and tourists to travel to Dumaguete.
Jim Sydiongco, CAAP director general, said the airport rehab project also included the re-blocking of the airport apron, construction of two taxiways to allow bigger aircraft to land, and the expansion of the passenger terminal to accommodate 450 passengers.
Jay Daniel Santiago, Philippine Ports Authority general manager, said the new, two-story port building includes a bigger terminal that could accommodate 500 passengers from Cebu, Siqujor, Bohol, and even from Mindanao. Ryan Sorote