Wednesday, May 21, 2008 Construction of airport in Panglao to start in December
PRESIDENT Arroyo yesterday led the ground-breaking of the Panglao-Bohol International Airport, considered the biggest development in the province’s history with an estimated cost of P4.17 billion.
The feasibility study of the project is already finished and they are now working on the detailed engineering design. Construction will start in December this year.
Arroyo arrived at the site of the future airport in a helicopter from Cebu, and delivered a short message to Boholanos before proceeding to the Cabinet meeting in Dauis, also in Bohol.
Secretary Leandro Mendoza of the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) said that although Cebu and Bohol are near each other, the operation of Panglao-Bohol airport would not affect the Mactan-Cebu International Airport because Bohol has its own market, considering that it has several tourist destinations.
Bohol Gov. Erico Aumentado said that at present, tourists in Bohol, who are mostly Koreans and Japanese nationals, pass through the Mactan airport before taking fast craft vessels to Bohol.
Mendoza said that of the P4.17 billion project cost for the Panglao airport, P3 billion will come from Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) coffers under General Manager Alfonso Cusi. The rest will be shouldered by DOTC.
MIAA is a government-owned and controlled corporation that is attached to the DOTC.
Arroyo said in her speech that given the country’s economic growth, her administration is implementing the Panglao airport project without borrowings.
In a separate press conference, Bohol Provincial Administrator Handel Lagunay said the airport project needs 211 hectares and they have already acquired and paid for about 135 hectares. (EOB)
