OPERATIONS at the Clark International Airport in Pampanga are set to resume around 4 p.m. today, April 24, as the terminal building and control tower that were damaged by the magnitude 6.1 earthquake were already repaired.
The Clark airport's passenger terminal building and control tower were damaged after the strong quake that shook Luzon on Monday, April 22.
Repairs were completed, though, in less than 48 hours, said the Department of Transportation and Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC).
Power was also restored, as well as the flight information systems and closed circuit television cameras (CCTVs).
CIAC President Jaime Melo said in an interview that the airport operations, from the counter to boarding gates, will resume around 4 p.m. Wednesday, April 24.
DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade was delighted with the swift action and said what happened was a result of a calamity and needs to be addressed.
"Sa mga ganitong panahon, napakahalaga ng transportasyon upang dalhin sa kaligtasan ang mga tao. Ang sabi ng Pangulong [Rodrigo] Duterte, siguraduhin na agad maisasaayos at matutulungan ang mga tao. Kaya kami ‘ho sa DOTr, CIAC at BCDA ay puspusan ang ginawang pagkukumpuni ng mga istruktura upang maibalik sa normal ang operasyon dito sa Clark airport. Lahat po ng maaaring ibigay, mula sa pagkain, libreng sakay, ibinibigay ho namin," he said.
Tugade earlier ordered the CIAC officials to immediately procure equipment and services needed to repair the damaged airport facilities.
The DOTr said the damage at the airport after the earthquake was pegged at P30 million, while around 110 flights were affected after operations were suspended Monday, April 22.
Meanwhile, no damage was reported on the airport's runway and taxiway, said the DOTr. (LMY/SunStar Philippines)