CLARK FREEPORT -- The government seeks to night rate a total of 13 commercial airports for the next three years.

“Department of Transportation intends to night-rate four airports this 2020, two in 2021 and seven in 2022,” Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines director general Jim Sydiongco told aviation stakeholders during the Institutionalized Leveraging of Infrastructure Program for Airport Development or iLIPAD Conference 2020.

Airports to be night rated this year include Cauayan Airport, Dipolog Airport, Sangley Airport, and Pagadian Airport.

Scheduled for 2021 are San Jose (Mindoro) Airport and Bicol International Airport.

And lastly, to be night-rated in 2022 include Ozamiz Airport, Sanga-Sanga Airport, Calbayog Airport, Ormoc Airport, San Vicente Airport, Antique Airport, and Virac Airport.

“As of today, 22 out of 42 commercial airports are night rated,” Sydiongco added.

During the iLIPAD Conference 2020, Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority has committed P1-billion funding for the night rating capabilities of several commercially operated airports in the country.

Night rating aims to increase operational efficiency of airports and reduce day-time flight congestion.

This is in line with the current administration’s Build Build Build program which targets to decongest the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and Metro Manila as a whole. (PIA-Central Luzon)