The Daily Manila Shimbun

 

DOTr plans to open other international airports as Metro Manila shifts to GCQ

May 29, 2020



The Department of Transportation is eyeing to open other international airports in the country as Metro Manila transitions to general community quarantine starting next week.

In a televised meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday night, DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade said as his office expands the operation of international aviation gateways, the government will also establish the testing laboratories for coronavirus disease in those airports.

"What we are going to do, once we transition from MECQ (modified enhanced community quarantine) to GCQ is to expand the international aviation gateways to include Clark, Cebu and Davao," he said.

"It's important for us to say that as we expand the international gateways - aviation gateways, we also plan to put up test laboratories. The establishment of testing laboratories in Clark and Cebu will soon be completed," Tugade said.

He said the DOTr is coordinating with the Department of Health and the Philippine Red Cross for the establishment of testing laboratories in other airports.

"While we put up the testing laboratories, there are already accredited hospitals which can do the testing in Clark and Cebu. That's why even if we don't have yet accreditation from Red Cross or DOH, we can already utilize those airports," he added.

Currently, Tugade noted that international landings and takeoffs are only taking place at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

He said that later on the DOTr wants to further open the other international gateways, such as the airports in Zamboanga City, Iloilo, Bacolod City, and Bohol.

"This is important because this is one way of decongesting what is happening right now at NAIA Terminal 1, 2, 3, and 4 and putting it in the provinces and region. Bear in mind that we are an archipelago and therefore it is imperative that we spread the aviation centrum of operations to other parts of the country, other parts of the region," the DOTr chief explained.

Duterte has approved the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to relax the quarantine classification in Metro Manila from MECQ to GCQ starting June 1. This means, almost all the businesses could resume operations and public transportation is also allowed but with the observance of minimum health standards. Celerina Monte/DMS