President Duterte to lead in 

Panglao eco-airport launch 

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, November 23 (PIA)—If plans do not miscarry, runway 03-21 of the new Bohol Panglao International Airport (BPIA) would finally be opened, November 27, 2018, which would also mark the formal start of the operation of the P7.73 billion first eco-airport in the country. 

Now set to fly after a long gestation period, BPIA has started from the ambitious minds for then Governor Rolando Butalid, followed on by OIC Governors Victor dela Serna, Constancio Torralba, to Governors David Tirol, Rene Relampagos, Erico Aumentado and now Gov Edgar Chatto. Then earning opposition over the allegedly imprudent use of a prime property for an airport that could be built with much lesser cost, BPIA used to have a runway orientation 32 degrees to the left from the now 03-21. 

03-21 is an international code for the general orientation of runways based on the compass points, explains airline pilot and Captain Dexter Comendador, who added that this orientation is generally on a north-south orientation. 

The 03-21 orientation only came later when further studies at the later part of then Gov. Aumentado’s term showed that 03-21 is a better orientation as it does not fly over Alona beaches. 

Sonic booms from departing planes could be a negative point for tourists seeking peace and leisure in the tropical beaches of Alona in Panglao. 

The 32 degrees reorientation as per new design now made by Japan Airports Consultants also evades the crevices and sinkhole that was then an issue with the airport. 

Said to be hatched in the backrooms of the offices of Butalid as an ambitious project to bring out the potential of Panglao island, the new dream airport project got an initial boost with the provincial government initiating the acquisition of lots for the project. 

By the time of Governor Torralba, the land acquisition increased, as the provincial government thought they would then have to bankroll the entire project. 

More land acquisition funds poured from the little the provincial government had during the time of Governor Tirol, a decision that could spell the governor’s political debacle. 

By the time Governor Relampagos came in, more land acquisition happened and arrangements with the national government to fund the project began on a serious tone. 

In 2001, Philippine officials offered the proposed P2.6 billion Panglao Airport Project, renamed PBIA Development Project for Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) funding, as part of the 25th yen credit package to the country. It was then rejected. 

By 2003, without an outside fund source, then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, whom Gov. Aumentado called the greatest patron for Bohol, accepted the challenge to fund the redesigned P3.4 billion project as the National Economic Development Authority Board approved a resolution for the new Bohol Airport construction with the Philippine Tourism Authority as the lead agency to find the sourcing of funds. 

Unfunded yet, by 2007, the P3.4 billion project, with its refinements increased in cost to P4.7 billion which would be solely funded by the government: MIAA bankrolling the P3 billion and the DOTC for the P1.7 billion. 

In May 23 of 2008, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo landed in Bohol to ground break and lay the time capsule for the multi-billion project, with then Governor Aumentado. 

By President Benigno Simeon Aquino term, he ordered the suspension of the project so he can review the contracts over allegations of corruption. 

Bohol’s efforts did not lack that when Gov. Edgar Chatto came, he followed up on the redesigned airport which turned out to have escalated in cost to P7.4 billion, according to the revised detailed engineering design by Philippine Japan Airport Consultants (PHIL-JAC) as approved by NEDA in 2012. 

By March 2013, the Japan International Cooperation Agency signed an agreement with the Republic of the Philippines to build the Panglao Island International Airport, in a project that would be renamed New Bohol Airport Construction and Sustainable Environment Protection Project, and at a cost of P7.73 billion to include now the 500 meters additional runway and PTB expansion. 

By March of 2016, President Benigno Simeon Aquino, with Gov Chatto, Cong Relampagos and Panglao Mayor Nila Montero, did another ground breaking and capsule laying of the new project, saying by the end of his term, there should be substantial completion of the project. 

President Rodrigo Duterte came to power believed that building hubs where development can enter supported the project and his presence to officiate the ceremonies would be a strong statement of his belief that empowering the regions is a better policy than just concentrating development in Metro Manila. 

With the president would be Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade, DOTR Undersecretary for Aviation and Airports Capt. Manuel Antonio Tamayo and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Director General Capt. Jim Sydiongco, says CAAP in a communication. 

Packaged as an eco-airport, the airport now renamed BPIA, replaces the Tagbilaran City Airport which would be decommissioned as the Panglao airport transitions to full operations. 

Compared to Tagbilaran Airport, new air facility features 2,000 meters runway upgradable to 2500, as against the 1,800 meters, two-storey passenger terminal building (PTB) with 13,337 square meters of floor space as against the cramped city PTB, has multi-angled passenger boarding bridges, more airline check-in counters and ample security check areas, concessionaires spaces, public areas, service areas and parking spaces. 

Set initially as a sunset to sundown airport taking the Tagbilaran flights, BPIA has readied itself with night landing capabilities and could transition into one with full Instrument Landing System capability, says project manager Engr. Edgar Mangalili. 

With a one-plane policy imposed by CAAP for safety of airport operations, the opening of Panglao airport that can accommodate 7 airplanes at the same time, authorities believe that serving locals and foreign tourists as well as travelers can be easier with the new airport. 

Designed to accommodate the 1.44 million domestic and foreign visitors by 2020, BPIA can, as designed, serve a total of at least 21 domestic and 2 to 4 international flights daily with an apron occupancy rate of seven aircrafts, according to CAAP. 

But as an eco-airport, BPIA sports an organic architectural design in its PTB with roofs that resemble the waves in Panglao beaches or the Chocolate Hills, uses natural ventilation in its public areas, or focused air conditioning in areas of congregation, Light Emitting Diode lighting systems, motion sensor controlled lighting, water treatment facilities, rain collection system and has installed solar panels for some of its power requirements, according to Gov Edgar Chatto. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)