Submitted by Vox Bikol on
LEGAZPI CITY – In a public statement on Monday (May 21), Party list “AKO BICOL” strongly condemned the rebel attack Friday’s(May 18) at the construction site of the proposed Bicol International Airport in Alobo, Daraga, Albay, that caused damages to its contractor, Sunwest Construction and Development Corporation, topping P100-Million.
Twelve units of heavy equipment worth millions of pesos were torched by suspected communist rebels at the newly constructed airstrip .
According to “AKO BICOL” party list representative Rodel M. Batocabe, the completion of the said airport complex scheduled for completion in 2014 at a cost of P3.5 Billion is a priority of the Aquino administration.
Citing increased tourist arrivals in Albay, Bicol leaders particularly in Albay through Governor Joey Sarte Salceda had earlier convinced President Aquino to continue the multi-billion airport project that was started by the Arroyo. administration. The airport when completed is expected to generate employment and spur economic growth in the region, Batocabe said.
In the strongest words of condemnation, Batocabe said, “we view the incident with grave concern since these acts of terrorists no longer choose what to destroy or where to sow fear and destruction,” he lamented.
He added, that his party will file the appropriate resolution in Congress to investigate last week’s incident and institute measures that will instil investor confidence in priority projects in our countryside, he said.
In an earlier statement, construction firm “Sunwest”, who won the bid in the airport project, made a guarantee that despite the huge losses and the trauma experienced by their employees during the rebel attack, “they are committed to finish the “Bicol International Airport” by 2014.”
The International Airport in Daraga town is a major project being pushed by Albay Gov. Joey Sarte Salceda as an option to the Legazpi City Airport that is now at risk because of frequent eruption of the Mayon Volcano in Albay. The airport is also being eyed as an alternative to congested airports in Metro Manila. (SONNY SALES)