Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez has directed the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) to set aside P200 million to P300 million to relocate National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) transmission lines that are preventing full use of the Bicol International Airport (BIA) runway.
The funding is meant to remove a major operational constraint at the airport. While BIA has a 2,500-meter runway, only about 1,900 to 2,000 meters are currently usable because of the power lines. This limits the size of aircraft that can land and prevents the airport from handling international flights.
Lopez said clearing the obstruction will allow the airport to maximize its full runway length, support jet operations, and eventually lower airfares by accommodating larger aircraft. He added that once funding is secured, the relocation of the transmission lines could be completed within the year.
The move follows President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive for the Department of Transportation to maximize BIA’s operations to open it to international flights and help boost tourism in the Bicol region.
Under a memorandum of agreement, the DOTr, CAAP, and NGCP committed to resolve the transmission line issue so the airport can fully utilize its runway and operate international services.
Albay Governor Noel Rosal welcomed the development, noting that removing the transmission lines would allow even wide-body aircraft such as the Airbus A330 to land at the airport, significantly expanding its operational capacity.
