MikeLigalig.com

By Kit Bagaipo
The Bohol Chronicle

Bohol Gov. Erico Aumentado welcomed the request by some Manila-based Boholanos to have a dialogue on the pros and cons regarding the proposed Panglao Bohol International Airport (PBIA).

The dialogue sought by the Boholano group in Manila came barely two weeks before Pres. Arroyo is set to lay the time capsule to signal the start of the new airport in Panglao.

The governor said he is available for said dialogue in Manila before the month ends. However, Dr. Ernesto Pernia, a UP economic professor who is the group's leader will be out of the country until June.

He said that the survey, conducted by Holy Name University Research Center, showed majority of the Boholanos are in favor of the project in line with the shortness of the runway of the existing City Airport. The project is also a product of extensive studies for several years.

The governor was surprised to hear that lawyer Jun Sales, IBP president and lawyer Raul Barbarona disclaimed their knowledge on the inclusion of their names as signatories of a paid ad appearing in last Sunday's issue of this paper.

Speaking during his weekly "The Governor Reports," last Friday, Aumentado said the Panglao airport will be fully utilized and will not be a white elephant as anticipated by the UP economic professor who is a former lead economist of the Asian Development Bank.

Pernia's group said that a multi-sectoral consultation should be done to deliberate on the issues such as the economic, social, cultural and ecological impact of the undertaking.

According to the governor, the economic benefits of the airport is guaranteed and it will boost Tourism in Panglao.

Pres. Arroyo is scheduled to be here next week for the time capsule-laying of the airport project.

About 90 percent of the land area for the project is already acquired by the provincial government, Aumentado said.

Linkback: https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=12619.0