The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) today confirmed that all airports under its jurisdiction in Areas 10, 11, and 12 remain fully operational following the magnitude 6.2 earthquake that struck off the coast of Surigao del Norte province early Friday morning.
The earthquake, which was tectonic in origin and felt across parts of Mindanao, did not result in any significant disruption to flight operations or major damage to critical airport infrastructure.
“We are pleased to report that all airports under Areas 10, 11, and 12 sustained no major damage and have maintained continuous operations,” said a CAAP spokesperson. “The safety of the traveling public and our personnel is our paramount concern, and we acted immediately to ensure the structural integrity of all our facilities.”
Immediate Action and Assessment
Following the tremor, CAAP’s Quick Response Teams were immediately deployed to conduct comprehensive inspections of all affected airport facilities, including:
- Runways and Taxiways: Thorough assessment to check for fissures or shifts that could compromise aircraft safety.
- Passenger Terminal Buildings (PTBs): Inspection of walls, ceilings, and structural supports.
- Air Traffic Control (ATC) Towers: Examination of the structural integrity and continued functionality of all navigation and communication equipment.
- Critical Infrastructure: Checks on power stations, firefighting facilities, and other operational buildings.
Initial reports from the ground confirm no critical damage was incurred. Minor non-structural observations, such as minor hairline cracks or fallen wall tiles in non-critical areas, were immediately addressed by on-site maintenance teams to ensure zero risk to passengers and staff.
The airports confirmed to be fully operational under the assessed areas include key gateways in Mindanao:
- Area 10 (Northern Mindanao): Laguindingan Airport, Ozamiz Airport, Camiguin Airport, etc.
- Area 11 (Davao Region): Francisco Bangoy International Airport (Davao International Airport), General Santos International Airport, Cotabato Airport, etc.
- Area 12 (CARAGA Region): Butuan Airport, Surigao Airport, Siargao Airport, Tandag Airport, Bislig Airport, etc.
CAAP assures the public that it continues to implement stringent safety protocols and maintain continuous, round-the-clock monitoring of all airport facilities across the region. The Authority is in constant coordination with the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) and other relevant disaster-response agencies to stay updated on any potential aftershocks.
“We thank our dedicated personnel who executed our emergency protocols flawlessly,” the spokesperson added. “Passengers are advised to continue with their flight schedules as planned. CAAP remains steadfast in its commitment to safeguard all passengers and ensure uninterrupted air travel across the Southern Philippines.”
