MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Transportation and Communications' Tacloban Airport Development Project will push through and will not be affected by the controversial Disbursement Acceleration program of the national government, an official said on Tuesday.
DOTC Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said the construction of a new passenger terminal building to meet the airport's requirements by 2016 remains on track despite the realignment of a portion of its funds to the DAP of the Department of Budget and Management.
Abaya clarified a recent report which gave the impression that the project would be placed in jeopardy by the realignment of P718.752 million from the project’s budgetary allocation, stating that this will not compromise the airport’s rehabilitation plan.
"The DOTC approved the realignment upon determining that it would not endanger the Tacloban Airport Development Project, and the President likewise approved the move after careful consideration of the Tacloban Airport's needs vis-a-vis the implementation of DAP to fast-track government spending. The DBM made the realignment once all the proper approvals were secured," Abaya said in statement.
He said that, since the project is being implemented in phases, the DOTC did not require the realigned amount for this year.
He also assured the public that this will not delay the project.
Abaya added that the project’s ongoing airside civil works – which entail the concreting of the apron and taxiway, as well as the completion of the shore protection – are expected to be completed ahead of schedule, or by February 2014.
Meanwhile, the landside civil works will be based on a detailed engineering design, which will be bid out by the agency next year, according to schedule, he said.
"Clearly, this was not an arbitrary move by the DBM, the DOTC, or the Aquino administration. Instead, it was part of the DAP's larger purpose of accelerating government spending to boost the economy," Abaya said.