Lawmakers from the Ako Bicol Party-list have filed a measure seeking to transform the former Legazpi City Airport into a 41-hectare business and innovation hub aimed at generating jobs and attracting investments in the Bicol Region.
House Bill No. 9321 proposes the conversion of the idle airport property into what will be known as the “Legazpi City Business Hub.”
The proposal, filed by Ako Bicol Representatives Alfredo Garbin Jr. and Jan Franz Norbert Joselito Chan, came after airport operations were transferred to the Bicol International Airport in nearby Daraga, leaving the old Legazpi airport property unused.
The planned development is envisioned to include commercial and retail centers, office and mixed-use developments, hotels and convention facilities, transport terminals, innovation and information technology hubs, as well as green and disaster-resilient public spaces.
According to the authors, the project aims to maximize the economic value of the strategically located government property while creating long-term opportunities for residents in the region.
“This is an opportunity to transform an idle government asset into a major driver of inclusive and sustainable regional development in Bicol,” the lawmakers said.
The measure also proposes the creation of the Legazpi City Business Hub Development Authority, which will oversee the planning, administration, and implementation of the project in coordination with national agencies, local government units, and private sector partners.
Under the bill, Legazpi City and the provincial government of Albay would receive an equitable share from revenues generated by the proposed business hub, aside from local taxes and other lawful collections.
The lawmakers said the project is expected to position Legazpi City as a major business and investment destination outside Metro Manila while helping drive long-term economic growth across the Bicol Region.