TACLOBAN CITY — Nearly P2 billion worth of projects to improve nine airports in Eastern Visayas up to 2015 have been identified under a plan drawn up by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).
“The preparatory phase is already under way. The plan is set for implementation starting this year,” Antonio B. Alfonso, CAAP area manager for Eastern Visayas, said in a recent telephone interview.
MAIN FACILITY
Bulk of the plan is accounted for by P680 million worth of various projects to upgrade Daniel Z. Romualdez (DZR) Airport in Tacloban, the region’s premier airport, into an international airport.
Mr. Alfonso said projects include construction of a new apron, taxiway and new passenger terminal building.
Mr. Alfonso said that for this year alone, about P18.2 million has been earmarked for DZR to replace control tower equipment; repaint runway, apron and taxiway markings; as well as rehabilitate the existing passenger terminal by improving toilets and landscaping the surrounding area.
DZR projects lined up for next year, worth a total of about P6.6 million, include the purchase of a navigation aid service vehicle; provision of X-ray machines for cargo; as well as improvement of vehicular parking area and access road.
For 2014, P45 million is allotted for the rehabilitation of the airport’s Simple Approach Lighting System; runway, apron and taxiway maintenance; and continuation of rehabilitation of the existing terminal building.
By 2015, construction of a new passenger terminal building worth about P193.4 million will start.
“By 2016, CAAP has programmed to construct access road, improve the fire station building, construct other airport structures, an elevated water tank, and install Doppler VHF omnidirectional radio range (equipment). This would all cost about P417 million,” Mr. Alfonso said.
“Passenger traffic at the DZR Airport is increasing, so we need bigger airport terminal space and upgrade facilities to accommodate increasing flight and passenger traffic,” he explained.
OTHER UPGRADES
At Biliran Airport in Naval province, CAAP has proposed a budget of P31.6 million for runway grade correction, shoulder grade correction, as well as construction of new passenger terminal building and a perimeter fence.
In Borongan, Eastern Samar, the plan proposes a budget of P146.5 million for the construction of passenger terminal building with water system, upgrading of vehicular parking area and access road, construction of perimeter fence, upgrading of runway shoulder, expansion of apron, shore protection, extension of runway, construction of an administration building, and expansion of taxiway.
At Calbayog Airport in Samar, P93.5 million will go to the repair and improvement of the existing passenger terminal building; construction of perimeter fence; resealing of joints and cracks on runway, apron and taxiway; purchase and installation of communication equipment; extension of runway including stopways; lot acquisition for expansion of landslide area; purchase and installation of meteorological instrument; and concrete paving of the access road.
For Catarman Airport in Northern Samar, CAAP is seeking a P172-million budget to upgrade the Visual Approach Slope Indicator into a Precision Approach Path Indicator; improve the existing passenger terminal building, including comfort rooms and water system; install additional air navigation instruments; construct a new taxiway; as well as acquire a lot and build an administration building.
At Catbalogan Airport in Samar, the budget is P94 million for the construction of parking area, perimeter fence, apron, runway and taxiway; runway extension; a fire station building; and additional security fence.
In Guiuan, Eastern Samar, a budget of P134.5 million will be used for installation of an overhead water tank and related distribution system; obstruction removal; construction of waiting area and comfort room; expansion of apron; construction of a fire station and administration building; completion of asphalt overlay; runway shoulder grade correction; and concrete paving of access road.
At Hilongos Airport in Leyte, P113.5 million has been proposed for the concreting of the existing runway; runway shoulder grade correction; completion of apron, taxiway and perimeter fence; expansion of the passenger terminal building; construction of an administration and a fire station building; expansion of runway to 1,100 meters; as well as concrete paving of the parking area and access road.
In Southern Leyte, a P51-million budget for Maasin Airport covers construction of a multi-purpose terminal building; construction of security fence, apron, taxiway, and administration building; completion of fire station building; as well as site acquisition for a landslide buffer area.
At the Ormoc Airport in Leyte, P173 million has been allotted for resealing of cracks and joints of the existing runway; completion of a passenger terminal building; improvement of a fire station building; asphalt overlay of runway; obstruction removal; as well as construction of a turnaround pad and an access road.
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Source: Reyan L. Arinto, BusinessWorld (21 August 2012)
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