MANILA, Philippines --- The steadily increasing local and foreign tourist arrivals and passenger traffic in Tagbilaran, Puerto Princesa, Tacloban, and Pampanga have convinced the government to expand the existing check-in and pre-departure areas in local airport facilities.
According to the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), Palawan, Bohol and Leyte are rapidly growing as tourist destinations while Clark International Airport has been emerging as a national gateway for international low-cost carriers.
However, the DOTC's expansion program for the Tagbilaran, Puerto Princesa, Tacloban and Clark airports will only be through the procurement of semi-permanent polyvinyl chloride (PVC) tent terminal buildings.
DOTC justified the move saying PVC tents that will be put up under this project ''can be dismantled, transferred, and installed for reuse by other airports that would need them in the future. In the meantime, they will bridge the gap between the present designs of these airports until rehabilitation and construction works are completed.''
In an invitation to bid, the DOTC said it is bidding out a P166.4-million project to augment the existing check-in and/or pre-departure areas in the four airports to provide travel convenience for the increasing number of domestic and international visitors in these areas.
''The installation and expansion of check-in and pre-departure terminal buildings in the said airports is part of the DOTC's aim of improving domestic and international airports for access and mobility of people, goods, and services,'' the DOTC said.
The DOTC added that the semi-permanent terminal facilities will be installed to meet passenger demands but government will still pursue the construction of long-term airport facilities in these areas.
According to government records, the volume of passengers using Clark airport surged 71 percent last year, posting a record 1.3 million passengers or 533,000 higher than the 767,000 passengers recorded in 2011.
Tacloban Airport, meanwhile, experienced an increase of 20 percent in 2012 compared to its passenger volume in 2011.
''Rehabilitation and construction works are scheduled to begin in 2014, while preparatory works for expansion will be undertaken this year,'' the DOTC added.
Meanwhile, after the Puerto Princesa Underground River earned the accolade of being one of the 7 Wonders of Nature, Puerto Princesa Airport attracted and is expected to continue welcome more tourists this year.
''Design-and-build works at the airport, funded by the Korean government, are ongoing,'' the DOTC also said.
Tagbilaran Airport, which will soon be replaced by the New Panglao International Airport, is likewise expected to experience more passenger traffic as the city has at least eight direct flights from Manila at its peak.

Source: 

http://ph.news.yahoo.com/dotc-expanding-airports-amid-tourism-boom-125858579.html