Rep. Joey Salceda has thanked President Rodrigo Duterte for approving the Bicol International Airport (BIA) project.
“He lost here during the elections, but he still showed that he is doing his job. What took the previous administration three years to do, he was able to do in four months,” Salceda said, pertaining to the release of P700 million in funds for the construction of the landside facilities of the BIA and the bidding out of the P1.71-billion expansion of the airport.
Salceda said the international airport would enable Albay to increase its foreign tourist arrivals to 1.25 million.
“In Bicol, our future is tourism. It is the most horizontal industry,” Salceda said. “In 2025, combine it with the train, we can achieve 5 million.”
The province is also pursuing a multi-billion-peso railway project reviving the Philippine National Railway’s (PNR) Bicol Express line and connecting Legazpi City to Matnog, Sorsogon.
“Duterte knows what the people need and care about every day. Here in Bicol, our strongest potential is tourism,” Salceda said. “This will also help our overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).”
Rep. Salceda also said that Leni Robredo’s resignation from Duterte’s cabinet was a lost opportunity.
