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Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Airline threatens to suspend Cotabato flights
KORONADAL CITY -- The threat of Philippine Airlines (PAL) to suspend flight operations at the Cotabato Airport in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao is being seriously taken by the air transportation officials.
Airport officials in Cotabato are literally picking up loose objects that could spell the difference between safe and potentially disastrous landing for the country's flag carrier.
"Our workers are manually collecting daily loose gravel in the dilapidated runway," said Leon Masalta Jr., Cotabato Air Transportation Office general manager.
"That's why we hope to fast track the airport's rehabilitation and development," added Masalta.
But in a telephone interview, he said, the demand of PAL executives to immediately repair the runway still remains in freezer.
Masalta said that although some P20 million has been released for repair works, the fund would not be available until January or February next year because the project would have to undergo bidding.
"As far as I know, there's still no winner," Masalta pointed out.
Confirming that PAL indeed threatened to suspend flight operations at Cotabato Airport, Masalta said, airline officials inspected the airport for fear the damaged runway would destroy its fleet and endanger passenger lives.
But to appease airline operators, he said, a rehabilitation initiative over portions of the dilapidated runway is slated to take place before the end of the year.
Masalta said they are set to coat with asphalt runway portions that have deteriorated over years of servicing small and large airplanes.
Based on the 2003 estimate, cost of rehabilitation was P45 million, P20 million of which was approved and is ready for utilization, he said.
The P25 million balance is still to be appropriated by the Department of Transportation and Communications.
Although Masalta said the amount might have been included already in the department's 2006 budget proposal.
The Cotabato airport presently serves daily flights of PAL and Cebu Pacific to and from Manila and every other day for Sea Air's Zamboanga and Cebu flights. (RBS)
(January 2, 2006 issue)
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