(Photo courtesy of Department of Public Works and Highways)
TACLOBAN CITY – The new Tacloban Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport terminal building will be opened partially by 2026 as part of the long-term goal to meet international standards, officials said on Wednesday.
The construction of the three phases of the project is now in full swing after the Regional Development Council (RDC) initiated problem-solving sessions and intensified its regular monitoring, said Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) Regional Director Meylene Rosales.
“In the past few months, the contractors have been true to their promise to fast-track the project. This is a result of intensified monitoring of the RDC Regional Project Monitoring Committee and the Office of House Speaker Martin Romualdez,” Rosales told the Philippine News Agency.
The key components of the project include the construction of the New Passenger Terminal Building Phase I, the Tacloban Airport Development Project Phase 2, the construction of the Passenger Terminal Building Phase III, and the construction of airport facilities.
Substantially completed is the PHP761.91 million works under Phase 1. The second phase of the new passenger terminal building, with a PHP1.05 billion budget, is up for completion in early 2026. Ongoing works include roofing and architectural works.
The first two phases are funded by the Department of Transportation.
With the expected completion of PHP1.5 billion for Phase 3 and other airport facilities, the terminal building will be opened for domestic flights in 2026.
The third phase, funded by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), includes work on embankments, waterproofing, tile installation, painting, air-conditioning systems, installation of elevators and escalators, and passenger boarding bridges.
“We are fast-tracking the third phase of the project since we want to partially open the terminal by 2026. We are progressing ahead of schedule with actual accomplishments significantly exceeding planned targets,” DPWH Regional Director Edgar Tabacon said in a phone interview.
The Tacloban Airport Development is a flagship project of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., which aims to transform the airport into an international gateway by 2028.
The airport at the city’s San Jose district is one of the country’s busiest, with 24 daily flights between Manila and Cebu, with 1.69 million inbound and outbound passengers in 2024.
Named after Daniel Z. Romualdez, a former speaker of the House of Representatives, the airport serves as the main gateway from Manila and Cebu to Eastern Visayas. (PNA)
