Western Mindanao airports’ upgrade near completion

Pagadian, Zamboanga and Dipolog airports expansion project on time!

by Bong Garcia Jr. Correspondent
03 July 2009

ZAMBOANGA CITY—The upgrading of three airports in Western Mindanao worth P1.28 billion is nearly complete.

Mindanao Economic Development Council chairman Undersecretary Virgilio Leyretana Sr. said these are the airports in the cities of Dipolog, Pagadian and Zamboanga, which would be completed by the end of the year.

Greater connectivity in the region is expected once the airports have been upgraded.

Leyretana said the Dipolog, Pagadian and Zamboanga City airport upgrade are priority projects under the Mindanao Super Region strategy.

Leyretana said the P379.46 million Pagadian City airport-development project would be completed in December.

The project covers the extension of the runway and its apron, rehabilitation of terminal building, construction of administration and powerhouse buildings, perimeter fence and air-navigational facilities.

He said the upgrading of the P478.05-million Dipolog airport involves an asphalt overlay work on the runway and its extension, as wells shore protection, rehabilitation of terminal and fire station buildings and air-navigation facilities.

The P428.5-million Zamboanga City airport development is also targeted for completion at the end of the year and involves the asphalt overlay work on its runway, rehabilitation of existing terminal building and air-navigation facilities.

“By fast-tracking the upgrading of our airports, we would be able to improve our connectivity with the rest of the country,” Leyretana said.

“This would lead to more economic activities and generate employment and business opportunities for Mindanao,” he explained.

He said the rehabilitation and construction of airport facilities would contribute to a safer and more efficient airport operations while ensuring safer and smoother landings.

He said the airport-development projects are being implemented by the Department of Transportation and Communications in close coordination of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines under the Super Region development strategy.

Eight projects have already been completed from the 35 infrastructure projects under the Mindanao Super Region strategy, according to Leyretana.