(Eagle News)—-Improve operations or the military takes over.
President Rodrigo Duterte issued this warning after the government said it would drop negotiations with a consortium eyeing to rehabilitate the airport if an agreement was not reached by April 30.
Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said the Department of Transportation would take over the rehabilitation if this was the case.
“Yang NAIA na ‘yan ‘pag hindi kayo nag-improve diyan, magtake-over diyan Air Force. ‘Yan lang ang paraan diyan,” Duterte said in a speech in Puerto Princesa.
Duterte has expressed his admiration for the discipline of military men, and has appointed military officials or former military officials to posts in government.
He appointed former Army chief Eduardo Año as Interior secretary, and former military chief Rey Leonardo Guerrero to stamp out corruption and smuggling in the Bureau of Customs last year, among others.