P7-B Panglao Airport ok'd
MANILA. The National Economic Development Authority-Investment Coordination Council Technical Board and Cabinet Committee jointly approved last Wednesday the Panglao-Bohol International Airport Project with a new cost of P7.542 billion.
The joint meeting at the DOF Boardroom was presided by Sec. Augusto Santos, NEDA Director-General, upon orders of Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Gov. Erico B. Aumentado, a key player in the project, was invited as resource person.
Dir. Marlene Rodriguez of NEDA Region 7 justified the Panglao airport as a new facility in Panglao Island, Bohol to comply with domestic and international standards for operational safety and efficiency.
She said the project would open up the entire Central Visayas to more economic activities and enhance the tourism potential of Bohol.
She added that the project is technically and economically viable with an economic internal rate of return of 18.16%, much higher than the NEDA threshold of 15% EIRR.
Dir. Rodriguez was ably supported by MIA assistant general manager Tirso Serrano who informed the joint meeting that all technical and engineering interventions are being put in place.
However, the approval of the project, upon motion of Budget Undersecretary Mario Relampagos, came after Aumentado's views were solicited.
The governor revealed that the project underwent environmental assessment study for which the DENR Environment Management Bureau issued the necessary environment compliance certificate.
Likewise, he said social preparations were also conducted by a team of technical men for which public discussions have been made in the process of the project.
The governor also reported to the body that the Holy Name University Research Center, under its annual Bohol Poll Project, came out with a survey result that 99% of the Panglao Island residents favored the project, and 98% of the rest of Bohol likewise supported the project.
He also informed the joint meeting that groups of Chinese tourists from Mainland China are now making Bohol as their tourism destination and they intend even to have chartered flights direct to Panglao Airport, once it is operational.
However, Sec. Santos requested Aumentado to conduct another multi-sectoral consultation to inform the public on the latest airport development for which the governor readily acceded and would even invite representatives from the NEDA-ICC TB and the cabinet committee during the hearing.
Aumentado immediately relayed the information to Pres. Arroyo and Sec. Leandro Mendoza of DOTC, especially on the funding requirements of P3 billion from the MIAA, and P4.542 billion from the DOTC multi-year appropriation.
Usec. Relampagos was also requested by Aumentado to help provide DOTC with the necessary budget cover.
As approved, the major project components are: land acquisition, 230.45 hectares; runway, 2,500 meters x 45 meters with 7.5 paved shoulders on each side; aircraft parking area, 26,500 sq.m.; two stub taxiways from apron to the runway, 40,260 sq.m.; vehicle parking, 294 slots; passenger terminal building 11,500 sq.m.; cargo terminal building, 1,400 sq.m.; administration building, 1,000 sq.m.; air traffic control tower 385 sq.m.; crash-fire facility for Category 6; airport maintenance building, 400 sq.m.
The other components are: airport utilities such as water supply, drainage, etc.; all necessary visual and navigational aids equipment for Precision Cat 1; power house and installation of standby generator; airport security fence, 13,600 meters; airport perimeter road and checkroad; airport access road, 1.46 kilometers; GSE road; and, landscaping. (Angelica J. Sanchez)
source:
http://boholchronicle.com/2009/oct/25/front3.htmLinkback: https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=23333.0
