The Government of the Philippines is targeting the opening of a new passenger terminal building at Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport in Tacloban City within 2026. The upgraded facility is expected to expand passenger handling capacity and support the planned transition of the airport into an international gateway serving Eastern Visayas.
Passenger Terminal Building I has reached 98.054 per cent completion as of May 2025, according to regional development authorities. Minor construction delays, attributed to manpower and material constraints, resulted in negative slippage of 3.86 per cent. The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines has been tasked with enforcing contractor compliance under a catch-up plan to ensure timely completion. Complementary works under the Tacloban Airport Development Project include airport facility upgrades completed by the Department of Public Works and Highways, runway asphalt overlay works led by the Department of Transportation Philippines, and ongoing construction of Passenger Terminal Building III, which has reached 77.39 per cent completion.
The airport currently operates 24 daily flights and recorded approximately 1.69 million passengers in 2024, primarily serving Manila and Cebu routes. The modernisation programme, scheduled for full completion by 2028, is designed to strengthen regional connectivity, stimulate tourism and investment, and decentralise international access beyond traditional Philippine gateway airports. Once operational, the upgraded terminal is expected to position Tacloban as a key aviation hub for Eastern Visayas.
