The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has allocated nearly PHP600 million to finance the expansion and upgrade of seven airports across the Philippines and has invited bidders to deliver the improvement works.

For the Marinduque Airport Development Project, the DOTr has allocated PHP291 million and works will include the correction of shoulder grade, asphalt overlay of the runway and construction of the DOTr’s Project Management Office.

Around PHP94.14 million has been allocated to build a box culvert and an open canal at the Bicol International Airport, with PHP48.48 million allocated for the M’lang Airport Development Project under which a landside area and an open canal will be built.

The DOTr will also invest PHP48.29 million to improve the Dumaguete Airport’s runway grade and spend PHP47.27 million to build a covered drop-off area and enlarge the General Santos International Airport’s vehicular parking area (VPA).

Additionally, PHP29.07 million has been earmarked to broaden the tarmac, VPA and set up fences at the Cauayan Airport, while P28.94 million has been set aside to improve the access road at the Catanduanes Airport.

The DOTr has also announced that it aims to complete around PHP1 trillion of aviation projects during 2023 across the Philippines.