00:00Wheels-up zone in Antique as the Department of Transportation is shifting into high care as it pushes forward with major infrastructure projects, starting with the long-awaited upgrade of Antique Airport.
00:13Pilar Mabacquiao from the Philippine Information Agency, Antique, files the report.
00:18The Department of Transportation reaffirmed its commitment to fast-track the completion of key infrastructure projects in Antique, particularly the much-anticipated opening of the new passenger terminal of Antique Airport.
00:33Following the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., to ensure the government projects are done promptly with efficiency, the OTR Secretary, Vivintio Dyson, conducted an inspection of Antique Airport recently with Senator Loren Ligarda.
00:50Dyson emphasized the importance of infrastructure projects like airports and seaports in driving regional development.
00:57We came here upon the instructions of our president to really make sure that all the ongoing projects of the Department of Transportation are implemented faster.
01:10Kasi nga, you know, all these projects, airports, ports, and other critical infrastructure, they're so important for our people.
01:18So we're here and we're so thankful to Senator Loren for hosting us and for taking us around and for giving us really the important insights that we need in the national government to really implement these projects faster and better.
01:36He affirmed that the government is committed to expanding the airport's runway from its current 1.5 kilometers to 1.8 kilometers, making it capable of accommodating jet aircraft.
01:48With 1.7 billion already invested in the project, Dyson assured that the additional funding has been secured for further development in 2025 and 2026.
02:00On her part, Senator Loren Ligarda acknowledged the DOTR's efforts in pushing the project forward.
02:07When President Marcos landed here in his private plane and I was on board the flight, invited me and we were landing, he said,
02:15Uy, Lorena, ang ganda ng airport mo, pinaghirapan mo yan eh.
02:19Kasi alam niya, we were still colleagues in the Senate, linalagyan ko ng pondro every year through the DOTR budget and then eventually cap.
02:27But just to make it clear, for those who don't understand the budgetary process, the implementing agencies is never Congress, never the Senate, it's the DOTR CAAP.
02:39From the Philippine Information Agency, Antique, Pilar Mabacquiao for Balitang Pambansa.
