Zambo City unveils newly improved Zambo International Airport

 By Myra Cel L. Espinosa

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Sept 28 (PIA) – The newly renovated Zamboanga International Airport (ZIA) now has an expanded and enhanced Passenger Terminal Building (PTB) which can accommodate 750 passengers at any given time, compared to its previous passenger capacity of 500.

Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade, along with Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) and City Government of Zamboanga unveiled the improved ZIA today (September 28). 

Aside from the expanded PTB, the airport als
o now has a Malasakit Hall and Gender and Development Multipurpose Hall. With the completion of Malasakit Hall, the airport has improved concession spaces where the airport concessionaires can showcase the city’s local products.

Sec. Tugade directed CAAP to ensure the swift and successful realization of the ZIA's rehabilitation project, including its seamless and efficient operations.

“To the men and women of Zamboanga City and for Mindanao, these projects are for you, to show and to prove the commitment of President Duterte,” he said.

Zamboanga City Mayor Isabelle “Beng” Climaco-Salazar expressed her gratitude to DOTr through the leadership of Sec. Tugade for the project. 

“Thank you for bringing a wonderful airport rehabilitation, as the city is an important hub and centrally located,” said Mayor Climaco-Salazar.

She emphasized that ZIA is not only a transport hub but also a strategic security operations to host fighter planes. 

“I believe that if the city is secured, the lives of the people will be improved,” she said.

During the pandemic, the City Government of Zamboanga continuously supports the workers in the airport as they are also considered one of the frontliners and with improvements of the ZIA, the city ensures the safety of arrival and departure of the passengers. (RVC/EDT/MLE/PIA9-Zamboanga City)