MikeLigalig.com

An Editorial of the Bohol Standard

It’s about time the Panglao airport get off the ground.

For nearly two decades now, talk about the airport rising in Panglao has been going on. Far too long in fact that people are now more inclined to suspect that it won’t actually push through.

Presidents and governors came and went but the Panglao airport remained as it has always been – a mirage. While many airports that were drawn up much, much later, Panglao has sort of become the perennial bride’s maid that never became the bride. 

The long delay has given rise to a lot of problems. That is to be expected. As time moves on, people also get moved in a lot of different ways. Some of them get moved in the wrong places. Some are moved to do the right thing while others are moved to react negatively.

For instance, some of those who were opposed to it then are rooting for it now. Nothing wrong with that. The more people supporting it, the more chances of the airport coming to pass.
The problem crops up when some of those who were supportive of it then now sing a different tune. They may not be in the majority, but they cause problems just the same.

In the meantime, people are complaining about the higher rates charged by the airlines servicing the Manila-Tagbilaran route. They simply cannot understand why the same airplane companies come up with a higher assessment for their Tagbilaran flights.

They can curse the airline companies to high heavens but the fact remains that for as long as the airport is not relocated to Panglao, there is no way the air fares for Bohol will go down.

There are many bright boys who raise up all sorts of arguments to oppose the Panglao airport. They have a right to say what they want. In this life, the bright boys are not always right.

It has narrowed down to a choice between pressing on with the Panglao airport and scrapping it altogether. If the first one prevails, it would mean not only lower air fares but also a go-signal for the vertical development of Tagbilaran.

However, if the airport fails to materialize, then Boholanos will have to forget about all the talk of progress. The long delay has already stunted our growth, it will not hasten development with its scrapping.

By all means, let the Panglao airport project fly.

Linkback: https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=3455.0

Of course, if ever the Panglao airport ever "flies", the local airlines would be charging much higher fares for
the route since they will be charged more by the BOT operator since its only via Build Operate Transfer mode
(if ever there is a taker) can the facility ever be realized and thus has to recover their investment from the
facility users.

Why is it posited that the airport can only be made to "fly" via BOT? Did not the MIAA General Manager and
his Board assured our local politicos and the Bol-anons during last Firday's meeting (8/17/07) at the Bohol
Beach Club of the airport's completion by April 2010, as reported in the press?

================================================

MIAA General Manager Art Cusi arrived here Friday with the entire board of MIAA to assure the Boholanos that this is "no longer a dream, but a reality soon to commence with the fast tracking of the lot acquisition which totals to 195 hectares, including the expanded 2.5 km. runway.

He bared the P3 billion outlay is a "sure deal" after business tycoon Lucio Tan paid P3 billion as part of Philippine Airlines' payables to the MIAA as rental fees of the Centennial Airport which is being used by PAL as terminal building of all its domestic and international flights. The amount is now placed under escrow intended as the budgetary outlay for the airport project here.

The total project cost has escalated to P3.8 billion due to the delay of its implementation.

DOTC Secretary Leandro Mendoza who also flew into town to attend the meeting of the Panglao Island Tourism Estate Task Force at the Bohol Beach Club likewise confirmed that aside from the MIAA fund, DOTC has earmarked P145 million for the Bohol Airport project

The PITE task force meeting was presided by Gov. Erico Aumentado, PITE chairman together with Rep. Edgar Chatto, who is the task force vice chairman.

GM Cusi bared that he received marching orders from Pres. Arroyo to expedite the release of funds for the Panglao Airport considering that it has been delayed for several years already.

The President wants to personally inaugurate the airport on April 5, 2010, which is her birthday, according to Gov. Aumentado.
===================================


This propensity of some tradpols and bootlicking bureaucrats to tell tales to unsuspecting public glossed
over some stark realities, as also reported in the Manila press.

=========================================

PAL to pay MIAA P2.9 B in aero fees
MB 11/28/06

By ANJO PEREZ and LOUIE PEREZ

NINOY AQUINO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT — The Manila International Airport Authority is set to receive 84 monthly payments of P34,914,277 from Philippine Airlines (PAL) as backpayment for aeronautical fees incurred by the flag carrier since 1995.

The announcement was made yesterday by the MIAA which said that PAL has amicably settled the civil case filed by the MIAA which is now pending before the Court of Appeals.

Airport General Manager Alfonso Cusi disclosed that PAL’s arrears, which amount to P2.93 billion, represent the aeronautical fees incurred with the Airport Authority for the period December 1, 1995, to March 31, 2006.

Cusi explained that the P2.93 billion is the audited amount that PAL owes the MIAA and excludes interests and penalties.

Cusi explained that under the agreement, which will become effective once approved by the Court of Appeals, PAL will pay P34,914,277 a month for seven years.

"There’s a lot of work to be done and this development will help us accomplish our goals," said Cusi. "This agreement is an affirmation of the private sector’s confidence in the leadership and programs of this government."
================================

Audiatur et altera pars !!!

Linkback: https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=3455.0

The sad reality is that the present airport in Tagbilaran has no more room for expansion due to area limitation. The runway can no longer be extended to accommodate larger aircarfts.

Location wise, an airport at the heart of the city is not advisable. The risk factor is just too great.

Proactive planning is needed. According to Sec. Mendoza, The entire Southeast Asia including Japan, China and Korea will adopt open sky by 2015. Bohol's new airport should be able to accommodate these aircrafts from other major airlines, otherwise, our province will be left behind.

There has been no mention that the Panglao Bohol International Airport will be constructed through Build Operate and Transfer (BOT). The fund for the construction will be provided by the government itself, not from a private investor or lending institution.

The latest development as of August 17, 2007 is that GM Al Cusi said, "The money is in the vault".  It is noted that the news that PAL will pay MIAA in monthly installments for 7 years is dated November 2006 yet. Perhaps there were already positive developments in the interim.

   







Linkback: https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=3455.0