Chatto to endorse to RDC7 

more Panglao airport funds 

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, June 26, (PIA)—Bohol Governor Edgar Chatto is set to endorse to the Regional Development Council in Region 7 (RDC-7) meeting in Bohol June 29, a request for additional funds to upgrade the Panglao Bohol Airport (PBA), before the facility could open in August of this year. 

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) through its Airport Project Manager Engr. Edgardo Mangalili told local media that the additional funds which they seek from the national government would form part of the future development plans and those which makes the new airport in Bohol operate as efficiently and safely as possible. 

Part of the upgrades that PBA needs is a cargo terminal, a runway extension, a parallel taxi way running along the length of the runway and a fuel depot and hydrant system that allows uninterrupted airport operation even with plane re-fueling ongoing. 

When the airport opens in August, there is no cargo terminal yet, said Engr Mangalili, during a briefing prior to a media tour of the facility ongoing construction last June 12. 

DOTr reasoned out that part of the cost saving measures which the government planners adopted before was for the airport as designed and to be operated according to a public-private-partnership model. 

This means, as soon as the contractors complete the project, it would be operated by the private sector and part of the requirement would be for the private investor to build developmental components of the airport. 

This means the airline companies or the airport operator which is a private company would put up the cargo terminals in allotted spaces within the airport complex, Mangalili added. 

Now, all the developmental components would be built under the national government in schemes either by Official Development Assistance(ODA) or the General Appropriations Act (GAA), DOTr revealed. 

When the airport opens in August, it just means that airlines with cargo, would have to build their temporary cargo terminals, Mangalili added. 

On the other hand, to make the airport more attractive to long haul flights, DOTr bared that the existing 2.5 kilometer runway would be extended further by 300 meters. 

This is to encourage international airlines to come in, hinting that DOTr sees Dubai and LA flights as possible. 

Airport designers said a longer runway means more room for larger aircraft to negotiate. 

The builders eye A330 to B777 aircraft, ones that are bigger than the current planes serving Tagbilaran Manila routes and ones that have long haul capabilities. 

By that time too, the runway would be too long that an aircraft can easily exit the runway if a parallel taxiway can be opened and this taxiway can be used for queuing, Mangalili noted. 

As the airport builders have provided the fuel hydrants that lead to the plane parking bays, the next plan is to put up a fuel depot, so that “we can eliminate the presence of fuel tankers on tarmac,” DOTr airport project manager shared. 

“All we need to do is build the depot and tap the hydrants so that any plane refueling can be done just as efficiently and safely,” according to the DOTr. By the time we operate the airport, there will be no interruption, Engr Mangalili added. 

As to the status of these additional funding requests, he said “Right now we have already submitted to NEDA the request for the national government to fund it while Gov Chatto is endorsing this to the RDC Infrastructure Committee during its June 29 meeting set here in Bohol. 

Outside the project funds, the Local Project Management Office (LPMO) which is tasked to assist in the project implementation is now currently implementing road right of way negotiations and acquisition for the widening projects where barangay roads are transformed into four lane roads. 

LPMO Alfonso Damalerio said there is P 300 million DPWH fund for Bolod access road to the airport, and for Tawala access. 

“These are not part of the project but forms part of the local counterpart for an easier access to the airport,” Damalerio said. (rahc/PIA7/Bohol) 

DOTR official Engr Edgardo Mangalili and Local Project Management Office for Panglao Airport Alfonso Damalerio take turns in explaining to the media the features and the airport construction updates, assuring that a substantial completion of the project is expected this August. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)