By Clarinda I. Catimpo
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, (PNA) — The upgrade and expansion of the Puerto Princesa International Airport (PPIA) will soon take place as Korean construction firms bid for a design-build contract, City Tourism Officer Rebecca V. Labit said.
With an allotted Official Development Assistance (ODA)-funded $ 79.41-million, Puerto Princesa Airport Development Project (PPADP), bids of Korean construction firms will finally be announced on October 15, 2013 as the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) closes its bidding.
“The PPADP aims to improve its facilities and equipment to meet the projected increase in air passenger and cargo demand,” Labit said.
She added that the project entails the construction of new passenger and cargo terminal buildings, procurement of security equipment and baggage handling equipment, new control tower, new rescue and fire fighting building and new administration and operation building and maintenance building and navigational and traffic control equipment, among others.
The project also intends to enhance the airport’s aviation operation, service, security and safety performance levels to comply with standards prescribed by the International Civil Aviation Organization.
The Philippine government earlier received a $ 71.6-million loan from the Economic Development Cooperation Fund of the Export-Import Bank of Korea.