An official of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines-Davao (CAAP-Davao) said on Wednesday that CAAP-Davao is looking to lure more international airlines and increase passenger capacity to more than five million with the passenger terminal expansion of the Davao International Airport (DIA).
“Maka-add ta ug passenger capacity, improved facilities, we hope to be able to entice more international stakeholders and airlines to come in and consider Davao as a key destination. We are very hopeful and positive about this one. This will be the start of much more improved DIA,” Engineer Rex Obcena, area manager of CAAP-Davao, said during the AFP PNP Press Corps media forum on Wednesday at The Royal Mandaya Hotel.
He said 2019 is the banner year as CAAP-Davao has able to accommodate the travel of around 4.2 million passengers.
Currently, the daily average traffic movement is at about 9,500 to 10,000 depending on the season, which would translate roughly around 3.6 million annually.
He said CAAP-Davao is hopeful to sustain the 9,500 to 10,000 passengers daily towards the end of the year.
“Kung naa ta sa average na 9,500 that would translate to roughly around 3.6 million per year so wala pa gyud siya sa 2019 pre-pandemic nga level but with the improvements nato karon and revitalize the civil aviation sector, air transport, we are anticipating a very rosy 2024 and beyond. But right now although dili pa ingon ana kadaghan ang atong flights vis-a-vis sa level sa 2019 that would be a very big improvement,” he said.
Currently, there are eight destinations and an average of 35 flights per day at DIA.
Obcena said CAAP-Davao is hopeful to see the commencement of the expansion project, which has an allocation of P700 million, by July of this year.
He also announced that the bidding for the second procurement process for the expansion of the passenger terminal building of the DIA was opened on April 11, 2023.
“As we speak katong P700 million expansion of the passenger terminal building, which will be intended for the use of our international operations. I was informed nag opening of bids na for the second procurement process on April 11, 2023. Give or take within the month towards early May we hope na naa nay mu-qualify nga bidder,” Obcena said.
If all goes well, Obcena is hopeful that the expansion project will start within the year or probably by July.
Meanwhile, CAAP-Davao is accelerating improvements in the DIA wherein civil and architectural works are currently at 80 percent complete.
“That is a very minor improvement specifically in the checking area but the project includes the replacement of the brand new units sa atong mga three units each escalator and elevators and so far ang civil and architectural works sa atubangan probably 80 percent and it’s about to finish na. Gamay na lang na mga architectural aesthetics that is part of the project,” he said.
Obcena said improvements are expected to be finished on or before May 15, 2023.
Installation of the remaining escalators continues but CAAP-Davao already opened for the public use escalator at the checking area and is hopeful that by next week the escalator can also be used for domestic arrivals.
“Those are very crucial to our operation. As we speak nagsugod na pud ug demolish katong elevator sa may check-in and ang isa ka elevator is already installed months back dinhi sa domestic arrival. We will soon commission and we hope na subsequent didto sa pag open sa domestic arrival escalator we will also be able to open for public use katong elevator didto. The last remaining will be the elevator didto sa employees’ entrance nga ginagamit pud sa VIP entrance mao to probably will cause a delay but by and large medyo okay naman ang project,” he said.
