Guv's appeal to airport critics: Don't rock boat Gov. Erico Aumentado yesterday broke his silence, at least in print media, involving the appeal of clarification regarding the ambitious Panglao Bohol International Airport as raised by Manila-based academics and businessmen.
Actually, this was not the first time that the airport's proponent answered allegations about the project but this was largely confined in radio interviews.
The answer which came in the form of a paid advertisement was the governor's way of addressing another "infomercial" which appeared in the Bohol Chronicle's issue of May 4 entitled "An Appeal for Clarification on the Proposed Panglao Airport".
With its signatories reading like a who's who of Manila-based Boholanos, the paid advertisement was a virtual repudiation of the airport project citing among others its economic viability and its impact on the environment.
Among the prominent Boholanos who lent their names in the advertisement were the likes of Dr. Ernesto Pernia, an economic professor of the University of the Phils. and Dr. Jose Abueva, former UP president.
To give a local color of the appeal for clarification, other names of prominent Boholanos based in Bohol were included only to be disowned when their names saw print.
Among those who feigned ignorance when their names appeared in print were lawyers Isabelo Sales, Jr. ,president of the local Integrated Bar and Raul Barbarona, executive director of the Environmental Lawyers Assistance Center (ELAC). Former governor Rene Relampagos and businessmen Frederick Ong also balked when their names appeared in the ad.
Engr. Nilo Sarigumba one of the most vocal critics of the airport project who also signed the ad meekly admitted in a radio interview that indeed he did not consult the supposed signatories who disclaimed latter their participation of the paid ad.
DON'T ROCK THE BOAT
The main gist of Aumentado's answer to critics of the project was that they should not rock the boat while it is on its steady course to progress.
In his Appeal for Progress, Aumentado cited the fund sources, the project's economic viability, geographic location, environmental and social preparations, acceptability and the airport as a magnet of development.
Addressing the issues raised by Dr. Pernia, the governor debunked speculations that the airport is funded by an Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) loan.
Zeroing in on the funding question, Aumentado said the estimated P4.2 billion project cost will be sourced from the corporate funds of the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) and the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC).
ECONOMIC VIABILITY
In the same Aumentado appeal for progress, the governor demolished whatever apprehensions of the project's economic viability.
He said per feasibility study conducted by TCGI Engineers and validated by the Regional Development Council and NEDA Region 7, the airport has an economic internal rate of return (EIRR) of 23.6%. This is way above than the NEDA threshold of 15% after considering that the airport can be fully harnessed for chartered flights of tourists from foreign lands in addition to regular domestic, regional and international flights.
On the issue of environmental and social preparations, Aumentado has a ready answer for all these.
He said the project underwent the necessary environmental impact assessment (EIA) study, generating a series of consultations and meetings in the municipality of Panglao. The EIA is a precondition for the issuance of the environmental clearance certificate (ECC) by the DENR-EMB for the project.
MAGNET OF DEVELOPMENT
According to Aumentado, there was no question that the airport project would lead to more developments in Panglao island and the province of Bohol.
As a magnet of development, Aumentado was bullish about the airport impact on other tourism related activities in Bohol as a whole.
He said side by side with the airport construction is the undertaking of the road and causeway improvement projects to avoid traffic gridlock once the airport will be operational. This will be followed, he added, by the establishment of drainage and sewerage system and water and power development.
Oozing with expectations, Aumentado said the project can even trigger the early implementation of the Bohol Circumferential Road Improvement Project Phase 3 which work covers the Panglao-Tagbilaran-Baclayon road links as Package 1 and the Anda Peninsula highways (Guindulman-Anda-Cogtong-Candijay-Mabini-Ubay) as Package 2. He said Anda will be the next tourism destination to be developed.
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