Duterte leads groundbreaking of Ozamiz airport upgrading project

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Wednesday, November 28, spearheaded the time capsule laying for the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the New Passenger Terminal in line with the Ozamiz Airport Modernization Project.

In his remarks, the Chief Executive narrated that this project evidently shows the government’s commitment to developing the nation.

“When I was elected for a position in the national government, I told the DPWH and everyone to divide the money equally across the whole Philippines — just stick to the plan to fast-track the development,” the President said in Cebuano.

He then expressed his awareness of the public’s concern that as soon he becomes the President, all the development projects’ budget will only be devoted to Davao City, where he became a mayor for 23 years. On the contrary, his mandate to his cabinet officials was to “prioritize other places,” instead of his city.

The goal of modernizing the Ozamiz City’s airport is to upgrade it into an international airport in order to beef up the tourism development in the area.

The allocated funds for the airport site development program includes the new apron and fence, the construction of a new passenger terminal building, improvement of the runway airstrip, expansion and asphalt overlaying of the runway. The entire cost of this airport modernization project amounts to almost P1 billion, and funded under the General Appropriations Act and implemented under President Duterte’s Build, Build, Build Program.

During the event, the President was accompanied by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Mindanao Development Authority Secretary Datu Abdul Khayr Alonto, 1st District of Misamis Occidental Representative George Almonte, 2nd District of Misamis Occidental Representative Henry Oaminal, Misamis Occidental Governor Herminia Ramiro, Ozamiz City Mayor Irene Luansing, and CAAP Director-General Jim Sydiongco. (PCOO)