The much-awaited, much-publicized, most controversial and most-betted upon P7.1B New Bohol Airport Project in Bohol is now on its final phase of preparations before implemenation. The New Bohol Airport Local Project Management Team (LPMT) of the Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh), together with representatives from the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), the National Housing Authority (NHA), the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), met with the Project-Affected Families (PAFs) of Panglao to "iron out together" loose ends of the project to avoid concerns later on. Necessity of the project due to the impracticality of the continued use of the current Tagbilaran City Airport was lengthily explained by proper agencies where updates of the project's progress were also discussed. Appropriate issues, like boundary fencing, entry and exit points, resettlement scheme, mechanisms on addressing grievances, livelihood programs for the PAFs and other related matters were given attention and appropriately explained by proponents. Last March 27 this year, the national government and the JICA group inked together the "Japanese ODA loan agreement" for the project.

This is also prove, without a doubt the promise made by Pres. PNoy himself that the new airport would be realized before he steps down from office in 2016. According to Provincial Legal Officer Atty. Mitchell John Boiser, the bidding process for "the site's fencing and clearing activities started last April. Temporary works would commence, most probably, in July this year;"whereas construction of the new airport's runway and terminal is eyed to start in January2014,” Boiser stressed. The meeting made affected families understand the new airport’s safe environment concept and using project's solar panels was explained to have been modeled after our province's world-famous Chocolate Hills and our seas' Rolling Dolphins on Waves. With all the project's mechanisms falling into their proper places, "there's no doubt that the Boholanos' 20-year long wait for the realization of the New Bohol Airport has finally come. Likewise promised by the present Provincial Leadership, “Bohol now would really continue to soar to greater heights, making way for a new breed of people who are not only ready to take on new challenges but also not afraid to break barriers to realize their dreams," Gov. Edgar Chatto, proudly said, fresh from his overwhelming victory in the recent May 2013elections. (jlv/EDCom)