Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez has ordered the immediate repair and expansion of Baler Airport to help improve the transportation of relief goods and medical equipment to areas affected by Super Typhoon Uwan (international name Fung-wong).

During his inspection of the airport in Aurora, Lopez said the planned infrastructure works are in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to ensure the immediate resumption of operation of transport hubs.

“Every year, typhoons pass through Aurora province, that’s why we need to ensure the airport can accommodate bigger airplanes for emergency relief and medical operations during typhoons,” he said in Filipino.

In addition to repairing the damaged passenger terminal building (PTB) of the airport, he ordered the extension and widening of its runway.

He also ordered the construction of a police barracks and the repair of other facilities inside Baler Airport.

The repair and construction are slated to begin in the first quarter of 2026 and are expected to be completed by 2027.

Lopez was accompanied in the inspection by Transportation Undersecretary for Aviation and Airports Jim Sydiongco, Undersecretary for Road Transport and Infrastructure Mark Steven Pastor, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Director General Raul Del Rosario, Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) General Manager Jay Santiago, and CAAP Deputy Director General Danjun Lucas.

Lopez also inspected the Dingalan Airport in Baler and the damage it sustained during the onslaught of Uwan.

In response, Santiago ordered the immediate cleanup and repair of Dingalan Port’s PTB, port deck, and sea wall to allow the immediate resumption of regular operations.

“The port sustained heavy damage, the storm surge was too strong. We need to fix this immediately because many tourists use this here in Baler,” he said.

Half of Dingalan Port’s PTB was filled with large rocks and sand from the storm surge during the typhoon.