Naga Airport development to go full swing

Legazpi City --- The development of the Naga Airport in Camarines Sur will soon go full blast following the resolution of the issues on lot acquisition and the right of way the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA)-Bicol said.

Eleven parcels of land within the project area have already been issued with writ of possession while thirty-five others will be subjected to expropriation proceedings if the owners would fail to enter into a settlement with the government, Luis Banua, NEDA-Bicol Director, said in an interview with Mediaworks Communication on Valentine’s Day. He, however, expressed optimism that an early resolution of the remaining lots will be obtained soon as some owners had already expressed willingness to ell their property.

A project facilitation session in Camarines Sur was recently conducted by the NEDA-Bicol where issues and concerns on the lot acquisition were addressed, Banua said, adding that owners, mostly farmers, were assured of just compensation, livelihood or employment in the airport.

The development of the airport would involve the construction of a wider and longer runway that is aligned with the wind direction to make it safer and eventually accommodate bigger passenger planes to land.

Bidding for the perimeter fence and physical development had already been conducted last February 3, Banua said.

Once completed, the development of the airport would augur well for the economy of Camarines Sur in particular and the Bicol Region in general through increase tourist arrivals, lesser flight cancellations and faster transportation of goods to and from the area, the NEDA chief director explained.

Based on records, the Naga Airport development was first studied in 2014 with a proposed budget of about P3.53 billion but the amount had ballooned to P10.6 billion since its last revision in May 2022 and is still expected to increase due to increase in prices and labor, Banua stressed.

Aside from the Naga Airport, the Department of Transportation (DoTr) is also working on other airports in Bicol like the Masbate airport and Camarines Norte airport.

The NEDA director said the Masbate airport will be relocated entirely from its present location to Barangay Asid, which also in Masbate City, to extend the runway airport while the Daet airport will be repaired to make it operational.

He also mentioned that the provincial government of Sorsogon is initiating the development of the Bacon airport in Bacon District, Sorsogon City.