PALO: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is upbeat that the development of the Tacloban Airport will be completed by 2026, meeting international standards. Speaking to officials and government project beneficiaries at the Leyte Convention Center here Thursday, the Chief Executive said the airport development is a priority project of his administration. 'There is an ongoing construction of passenger terminal building, runway, and additional access road while expanding the entire airport complex. Our goal is that by 2026, this will be completed, enhancing transport experience at the Tacloban airport,' Marcos said during the distribution of presidential assistance to farmers, fisherfolk, and families in Palo town. Complementing the project is the construction of the PHP4.58 billion Tacloban causeway, which will provide a shorter route from the city's downtown to the airport. The President said travel time would be reduced to only 5 minutes from the present 30 minutes from the city hall to the airport. The co st of the first phase of the airport terminal building construction is PHP761.91 million. Also ongoing, meanwhile, are the two phases of site acquisition at the cost of PHP334 million. The national government has also set aside PHP500 million to construct airport facilities. Another ongoing project is the PHP1.05 billion second phase of the passenger terminal building. Phase 3 of the terminal building needs funding of PHP1 billion. Officially named the Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport after the former speaker of the House of Representatives, it is one of the country's busiest, with 40 daily flights between Manila and Cebu. It was the country's 7th busiest in 2022, with 1,489,803 inbound and outbound passengers. The airport is the main gateway from Manila and Cebu to Eastern Visayas. Source: Philippines News Agency