DOTC to finish upgrade of 8 provincial airports

Earmarks 370 Million for project completion

June 14, 2012

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) is set to complete airport development projects in the Cities of Butuan, Cotabato, Pagadian and Dipolog, including developments for San Vicente airport in Palawan, Sanga-Sanga airport in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi and Maasin airport in Southern Leyte with project cost estimating P370.4 million.

"The government is committed to improve the airports in these areas where trade and tourism have been in an upswing for the past year," Transportation Secretary Mar Roxas said.

DOTC is allocating P63.9 million for the Sanga-Sanga airport, Bongao, Tawi-Tawi for site development (2,970 sq.m.) and construction of new passenger terminal building (one storey, 1,110 sq.m. PTB), expansion of apron (8,000 sq.m.), and construction of drainage system (94 l.m.). The airport serves A320 and A319 flights from Cebu Pacific and Air Philippines to Zamboanga transporting 21,500 passengers in 2011.

San Vicente airport will also receive P62.7-million for construction of passenger terminal building (1,350 sq. m.), runway extension with slope protection (6,030 sq. m.), hill obstruction removal (32,954 cu.m.), construction of fire station building (155 sq. m.), and construction of elevated 2,500-gallon water tank.

Meanwhile, Cotabato airport was allocated P58.1-million for widening of its taxiway (3,263 sq.m.) and runway (7,700 sq.m.) to ICAO standards, as well as construction of new perimeter fence (2,190 l.m.).

In Dipolog airport, another P55.2 million will be allocated for the completion of new passenger terminal building (one storey PTB, 2,111 sq.m.), while P45.5 million is allocated for Butuan airport for apron expansion (5,000 sq.m.), improvement and expansion of vehicle parking area (6,200 sq.m.), construction of concrete hollow block fence (2,730 l.m.), and construction of  runway drainage system (420 l.m.). Butuan Airport registered 385,000 passengers and Dipolog airport handled 166,000 passengers in 2011, respectively.

Pagadian Airport will also receive P42 million for rehabilitation and improvement of passenger terminal building (one storey PTB, 977 sq.m.), runway extension (1,584 sq.m.), widening of taxiway (2,100 sq.m.), improvement and expansion of vehicle parking area (5,337 sq.m.), construction of perimeter fence (2,160 l.m.), and construction of drainage system (398 l.m.), while the airport in Maasin will have P43.4 million for construction of runway subgrade extension (320 meters long by 30 meters wide) and runway strip pavement (32,000 sq.m.) to enable it to handle bigger turboprop aircraft for passenger traffic. Pagadian airport which recently opened in 2010 is being served by Cebu Pacific and Air Philippines for flights to Cebu and Manila handling 118,000 passengers in 2011, while there exist no passenger flights to Maasin.

DOTC recently released P370 million for Daraga international airport project and has completed bidding for Catarman Airport PTB expansion project and Borongan airport runway concreting project valued at P15 million respectively.