The Transportation Department has announced that it will be inaugurating the upgraded and improved Kalibo International Airport (KIA) on June 3.
The move is expected to further boost the tourism industry in Aklan and the entire Visayas region.
Transportation Secretary Art Tugade said that the airport’s upgrade will usher in more tourists to Aklan which is the home of world-famous Boracay island.
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“Noon, dahil napakaliit at napakasikip ng Kalibo International Airport, halos siksikan at kabi-kabila ang hirap na nararanasan ng mga pasahero. Kaunti lamang ang kayang i-accomodate na pasahero ng passenger terminal building, lalo na tuwing sasapit ang peak hours,” Tugade said in a Facebook post.
The DOTr said that the upgraded terminal now has an expanded area of 2,633 square meters from its previous 1,584 square meters.
The airport has bigger areas for pre-departure, customs, pre-screening, and check-in counters.
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The construction of the airport also helped the province’s labor sector by employing at least 200 workers.
“Habang nasa construction phase ang proyekto, umabot sa 236 na katao ang nabigyan ng trabaho, habang 316 naman ang kasalukuyan ay nagta-trabaho na sa paliparan,” Tugade added. (TDT)
