This was based on the infrastructure development committee meeting of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) last December 6, 2022 according to National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) 11 regional director Maria Lourdes Lim.
At a press conference held recently in time for the presentation of Davao Region’s 2022 Socioeconomic Performance and Development Outlook for 2023, Lim said DOTr at the Dec. 6 committee meeting presented its medium term investment plan for DIA with official name, Francisco Bangoy International Airport. The plan includes the rehabilitation and expansion of the passenger terminal building amounting to P1.07 billion and completion of the construction of a parallel taxiway amounting to P310 million. “Both are set for implementation in 2024,” Lim said.
She also said a feasibility study for the expansion of the DIA worth P75 million is also programmed by DOTr for implementation in 2024.
Lim however said, they hope the DIA’s modernization project will be implemented earlier against its target given the current plight at the DIA in terms of its functionality.
The Davao International Airport Modernization is a project proposal to expand the facilities at the Davao International Airport to improve its operations. There are four projects implemented by DoTr/CAAP (Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines) which are attributed to the DIA Modernization. These are the Construction of a Parallel Taxiway Phase 1, Improvement of Passenger Terminal Building, Rehabilitation/ Expansion of Existing Passenger Terminal Building, and the Renovation of Comfort Rooms, Replacement of flooring materials of the Pre-departure Area.
"We are hoping these projects at the DIA would be implemented earlier since we are currently witnessing that capacity of DIA has been reached already. The capacities of DIA are already over extended,” Lim said.
Meanwhile, on the unsolicited proposal for the operation expansion capacity augmentation and maintenance of DIA, DOTr in a letter dated, October 19, 2022 had requested the project proponent, Chelsea Logistics Holding Corporation to submit a revised proposal pursuant to the recently revised 2022 Implementing Rules and Regulations ( IRR) of the Build Operate Transfer Law, Lim said.
DIA file photo