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Ipil airport expanded

March 6, 2009

IPIL, Zamboanga Sibugay – President Arroyo ordered the allocation of P90 million for the expansion and improvement of the Ipil feeder airport to enable it to handle commercial flights next year to and from the cities of Manila and Cebu.

The President turned over P45 million check to Zamboanga Sibugay Gov. George T. Hofer to cover the first phase of the airport expansion project located in Barangay Sanito as she addressed the crowd gathered for the province’s anniversary celebration at the capitol grounds. She earlier led provincial officials in a ground-breaking rites at the site.

The Phase 1 of the project would extend the 800-meter runway to 1.2 kilometers. Another P40 million would be given next month for Phase 2 of the project that would involve the construction of a terminal building, taxiway and apron for passengers and cargo. It will be sufficient for Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines ATR and Q series turboprop plane which intend to service the route next year.

Second District Rep. Dulce Ann Hofer said it’s been a dream of the people of Zamboanga Sibugay to have an airport in the province as going to the Zamboanga City airport entails a three-hour trip by land from Ipil.

The governor said that once completed, the expanded and improved Ipil Airport will compliment the airports of Dipolog, Pagadian and Zamboanga City. Zamboanga Sibugay accounts for 15% of Zamboanga passenger traffic and and 4% of Dipolog airport traffic.


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