President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said Friday the government is working to start the Baler Airport Development Project in Aurora province.

During the distribution of presidential assistance to farmers and fisherfolk in Baler, Aurora, Marcos said the Baler Airport would be developed to increase its capacity to accommodate more flights and passengers.

“Patuloy din ang pagbabalangkas natin sa paggawa ng Baler Airport Development Project. Mahalaga ito upang maaari nang makatanggap ng mas (malalaking) eroplano at dumami pa ang pasahero na kaya nitong pagsilbihan (We are also preparing for the construction of the Baler Airport Development Project. This is significant so that it could accommodate more airplanes and service more passengers),” he said.

The President noted that the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has already acquired lands around the airport so that development works could start soon.

“Ngayong Agosto, nakatakdang ilabas na ang pondo sa mga may-ari ng lupa ng mga ‘yan upang masimulan na ang ating konstruksyon (This August, the funds are set to be released to the landowners so that we can commence construction),” he said.

The airport project includes the construction of a Passenger Terminal Building.

“Sa mamamayan ng Aurora, sana po ay maramdaman naman ninyo ang aming pagkalinga (at) pagmamahal sa inyo (To the citizens of Aurora, we hope that you could feel our care and love for you),” he said.

Marcos also outlined the other infrastructure projects in the province, such as the construction of the Dingalan-Baler Road, theh Aguang River Flood Control Structure Project, and access roads and paving in Dinalungan town.

He said the PHP4 billion Dingalan-Baler Road Project, which will cut down the travel time between the two municipalities through a direct road link between Dingalan and Baler, is halfway complete.

“Ito po ay direktang mag-uugnay sa dalawang tanyag na bayan ng Aurora upang mas mapabilis (pa) ang daloy ng kalakal, transportasyon, at turismo sa inyong lugar (This would directly connect the two towns of Aurora to ensure a faster flow of trade, transportation, and tourism in your area),” he said.

The President said the flood mitigation project along Aguang River in Baler would prevent the river from overflowing during heavy rains.

In preparation for the rainy season, the government has pre-positioned relief supplies worth PHP180 million for Central Luzon.

Marcos, meanwhile, pointed out that the construction of access roads and concrete paved roads in Dinalungan town would benefit the coconut plantations in the province.

The government, he said, is finding ways to complete the nearly PHP800 million worth of utility and infrastructure projects left unfinished within the property of the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO).

Marcos said the plan is to rebid the contracts to expedite the completion of the projects.

“Sadyang napakalaking kasayangan ang nangyari po rito na sana ay ngayon ay pinapakinabangan na ng mga mamamayan ng Aurora (It is such a huge waste what happened here, which should have benefitted the citizens of Aurora by now),” he said.

“Kasalukuyang (inaaksyunan na po ito ng) ating APECO president at CEO na si Gil Taway IV at napagdesisyonan na na itigil at i-rebid (na) ang mga kontrata upang tuluyan nang matapos ang mga proyekto sa lalong madaling panahon (Currently, APECO president and CEO Gil Taway IV is working on this and it was decided to cease and rebid the contracts so that these projects would be completed as soon as possible).”

Last month, Taway told the Philippine News Agency that they had to terminate some of the contracts and rebid them to finish 10 incomplete projects.

He said some of these projects were 80 percent complete but were abandoned.

During the event, the President handed over PHP10 million to the provincial government of Aurora to support local development projects that would enhance the quality of life in the province.

He also turned over farm machinery to local farmers and fisherfolk, aimed at boosting agricultural efficiency in Aurora.

He gave PHP10,000 each to 10 selected beneficiaries from the province.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) disbursed PHP10,000 to each of the 9,127 beneficiaries.

Representatives of several key government agencies, among them the Department of Agriculture 3 (Central Luzon), Philippine Crop Insurance Corp., Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PHILMECH), Agricultural Credit Policy Council, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Department of Labor and Employment, DSWD, and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, were also present to provide essential support and assistance. (PNA)