TACLOBAN CITY: The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is preparing to implement the PHP1.5 billion third phase of the Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport's passenger terminal building construction here. The third phase covers the provision of public toilets, ticketing booths, waiting areas and waiting sheds. Other components are rescue and firefighting facilities, guardhouses, motor pool and maintenance buildings, pump rooms, fuel stations, and material recovery facilities. The DPWH will bid out the project within the month and start construction later this year or early next year. DPWH Eastern Visayas Director Edgar Tabacon said they are finalizing the detailed engineering design while waiting for the completion of the first and second phases. 'Building an airport terminal building is not our regular activity. This is challenging and that is why we asked for assistance from the Department of Transportation and contractors for the first two phases,' Tabacon said in an interview on Friday. The constr uction of the terminal building is already 79 percent complete as of May, the supposed target completion month. The ongoing works for the PHP761-million project focus on the main bridge, electrical and mechanical aspects, fire protection, and masonry. The Regional Development Council said that although the project experienced delays, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippine project management office closely monitors the catch-up plan of the contractor. The second phase of the new passenger terminal building, with a PHP1.05 billion budget, started on Jan. 26 and is up for completion early 2026. Ongoing works include roofing and architectural works. The airport was the seventh busiest in 2022 with 1,489,803 inbound and outbound passengers. Source: Philippines News Agency