The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board approved the P17 billion New Dumaguete Airport Development Project on Thursday, February 2, NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan announced Friday.
Under the project, a new airport in Bacong, Negros Oriental, will be developed with domestic and international standards for operational safety and efficiency, Balisacan said in a statement.
The project will be implemented within seven years, he added.
It will replace the existing Dumaguete-Sibulan Airport “due to physical and operational constraints”, Balisacan said.
“The New Dumaguete Airport shall enhance the province’s tourism and trade potential, economic activities, and standard of living,” he said.
The total project cost is P17 billion, of which P13 billion will be funded through the Official Development Assistance, from the Korean government through the Export-Import Bank of Korea-Economic Development Cooperation Fund, Balisacan said.
The Philippine government, through the Department of Transportation, will shoulder the remaining amount of about P3.9 billion, he added.*