KALIBO, Aklan – The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) is locking down the Kalibo International Airport from Jan. 19 to 21.
All commercial passenger flights to and from the airport are suspended.
Flights will resume on January 22.
The whole airport will be disinfected and cleaned to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), according to Engineer Eusebio Monserate Jr., airport manager.
Affected passengers are advised to coordinate with their airline companies (Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines) for refund, cancellation and rebooking of flights.
Just recently, the airport management imposed stricter health and safety rules covering airport workers and passengers:
* for those dropping friends or loved ones off – only one person is permitted to enter the airport
* airport employees and passengers required to wear face covering in all areas of the airport
* arrivals from Manila are to exit through the international arrival area rather than directly proceed to the domestic arrival area
“Before deciding on the lockdown, we consulted airline companies and the Provincial Health Office,” said Monserate.
Several fire fighters, cleaners and employees of attached agencies at the airport contracted COVID-19.
To date, CAAP counted 25 infected airport personnel since the coronavirus pandemic began.
COVID-19 mass testings at the airport were conducted by the Provincial Health Office of Aklan on Jan. 7 and Jan. 8.
The Aklan provincial hospital molecular laboratory processed 645 specimens.
For disinfection are the passenger terminal building, Aerodome Rescue Fire Fighting (ARFF) Unit station, ticketing office of the Philippine Airlines and the CAAP administrative office./PN
