Bicol International Airport (Filipino

Filipino language

This move has drawn much criticism from other regional groups.In 1987, a new constitution introduced many provisions for the language.Article XIV, Section 6, omits any mention of Tagalog as the basis for Filipino, and states that:...

: Paliparang Pandaigdig ng Bicol, Bikol

Bikol language

Central Bicolano , is one of the individual languages of the Bikol languages. It belongs to Coastal Bikol. It is spoken in Bicol Region of the Philippines .-Bikol-Naga:...

: Pankinàban na Palayogan kan Bicol) is an under construction international airport

Airport

An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...

 that would serve Legazpi City

Legazpi City

The City of Legazpi is a first class city and capital of the province of Albay, Philippines. With 179,481 inhabitants according to the 2007 census, it is the largest city in the Bicol Region in terms of population, though not in land area...

, the capital of Albay

Albay

Albay is a province of the Philippines located in the Bicol Region in Luzon. Its capital is Legazpi City and the province borders Camarines Sur to the north and Sorsogon to the south. Also to the northeast is Lagonoy Gulf....

 and the regional center of Bicol Region

Bicol Region

The Bicol Region or Bicolandia is one of the 17 regions of the Philippines. Its regional center is Legazpi City...

, in the Philippines

Philippines

The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...

. The airport is currently under construction in the town of Daraga

Daraga, Albay

Daraga is a 1st class municipality in the province of Albay, Philippines.According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 110,625 people in 20,082 households.-History:February 1, 1814 was Mayon's deadliest eruption....

. The P3.5 billion airport is located on a 200-hectare plateau 15 kilometers away from the Mayon Volcano

Mayon Volcano

Mayon Volcano, also known as Mount Mayon, is an active volcano in the province of Albay, on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. Renowned as the "perfect cone" because of its almost symmetric conical shape, Mayon forms the northern boundary of Legazpi City, the largest city in terms of...

. Some sources also name the airport Southern Luzon International Airport (Filipino: Paliparang Pandaigdig ng Katimogang Luzon) . The airport will replace the old Legazpi Airport

Legazpi Airport

Legazpi Airport in the Philippines is a major airport in the Bicol Region, serving the vicinity of Legazpi City in Albay...

, which is only 2 to 3 kilometers away from this airport.

Background

The airport was in planning since early 2006 http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2006/mar/07/yehey/prov/20060307pro3.html, when officials discussed the feasibility of an international airport in Legazpi. During March 4 and 5, 2006, officials in Daraga, where the airport would be constructed, discussed with the barangay

Barangay

A barangay is the smallest administrative division in the Philippines and is the native Filipino term for a village, district or ward...

 capitains of barangays Alobo, Inarado, Kinawitan, Burgos and Mabini over the conversion of agricultural lands into industrial lands for the use of the airport. The airport is estimated to occupy at least some 2 square kilometres of land and many families could be displaced from the airport's construction.

This airport will be the first international airport to be built in Bicolandia

Bicol Region

The Bicol Region or Bicolandia is one of the 17 regions of the Philippines. Its regional center is Legazpi City...

, and according to Daraga Mayor Gerry Rodrigueza Jaucian, would be a testament to economic growth in the region and of the dreams of Bicolanos

Bicolano people

The Bicolanos are the fifth-largest Filipino ethnolinguistic group.-Area:Bicolanos live in the southeastern peninsula of Luzon, now containing the provinces of Albay, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Catanduanes, Masbate, and Sorsogon. Many Bicolanos also live near in the province of...

, as shown in the following excerpt from the Manila Times

Manila Times

The Manila Times is the oldest existing English language newspaper in the Philippines. It is published daily by The Manila Times Publishing Corp. with editorial and administrative offices at 371 A...

:

"We’re grateful to the President for fulfilling the Bicolanos’ dream to have an international airport. This is the realization of our quest to become one of the booming regions in the country."

Construction

On July 2007, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo

Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo

Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is a Filipino politician who served as the 14th President of the Philippines from 2001 to 2010, as the 12th Vice President of the Philippines from 1998 to 2001, and is currently a member of the House of Representatives representing the 2nd District of Pampanga...

ordered the DOTC (Department of Transportation and Communications), to fast-track the paper work on the planned new airport. http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=11&sec=archive&r=ALL&sp=68&fi=p070703.htm&no=81 President Macapagal-Arroyo has also released 85 million pesos for the advance engineering study for the new airport. http://www.ops.gov.ph/speeches2007/speech2007_jul13.htm Tourism Secretary Ace Durano has assured the allotment of P250 million for the purchase of land for the airport. As of November 2007, pre-construction activities such as the feasibility study and site development plan have been completed. The construction contract has also been bidden out. http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=regions3_nov14_2007