The Tagbilaran City airport is one of country’s additional existing 14 airports that will allow landing of night flights. But this is without prejudice to the much-anticipated rise of the new Bohol airport, which this early was described by Gov. Edgar Chatto as an economic landmark. The need to accept evening flights was in response to the clamor of the airline industry for purposes of promoting tourism while Bohol is awaiting fulfillment of an airport of global standard to be constructed in Panglao island. The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) reported the release of P933.8 million for a public-private partnership (PPP) package that will accommodate night landing operations in the 14 airports. DBM Sec. Florencio Abad said domestic airports like the existing one in Tagbilaran get busier than ever as local destinations magnetize greater tourist interest. Enlarging volume of human traffic and more flights jetting their way in and out of the runways are seen, according to him.

The night rating of the Tagbilaran airport and 13 others will enable these air terminals to allow additional flights in the evening, thereby no longer limiting to daytime their operations. The 13 other airports to get night rating are those in Tuguegarao, San Jose (Mindoro), Busuanga, Naga, Legazpi, Roxas, Dumaguete, Dipolog, Pagadian, Ozamis, Cotabato, Butuan and Surigao. The upgrading package to allow night landing operation will result in these airports being equipped with necessary facilities. These facilities include airfield lighting system, communications equipment, power supply system, air disaster management system, and other systems to manage air traffic services. According to the DBM, the project fund has been released to the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and chargeable against the agency’s lump-sum allocation for PPP Transport Infrastructure Projects under the 2012 budget.

As the new Bohol airport project in Panglao is attaining fulfillment, the Tagbilaran airport facilities have undergone upgrading because tourism and other mobility-requiring economic modifiers cannot simply be in a standstill, the governor said. For the Bohol government, Chatto just inked with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) an agreement on the protection and sustainability of Panglao island environment. This is critically elemental to framing in granite a development that shows a good modern airport---and all its progress consequences---balancing in dignity with ecology. (Ven rebo Arigo)