Planners and implementers, and even stakeholders, are staking efforts and resources with special attention focused on how to make the long-delayed New Bohol Airport project done. The Multi-partite Monitoring Team composed of multi-agency and stakeholders as initiated by the provincial government and the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) rushed to meet for the first time at JJs Seafood Restaurant this city last week to tackle pressing issues. These include tasks of the team and the most important, the environmental monitoring fund and environmental guarantee fund forged in an 8-page Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed by regional director Fernando P. Quililan and project director Guillermo L. Leonardo of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and DOTC, respectively. On hand to personally attend the meeting was Gov. Edgar Chatto who met and huddled with Undersecretary Julianito G. Bucayan, Jr., and Asec. Ildefonso T. Patdu, both of the DOTC to thresh out matters affecting the ambitious project that eventually and hopefully replaced the aging Tagbilaran City airport that is becoming congested as it has become busy both in arrivals and air flights. Also in attendance during the meeting were DENR Regional Executive Director Isabelo Montejo; DENR Engr. William, OIC, regional director for Environmental Management Bureau; Engr. Florencio dela Cruz, Jr., project manager of the DOTC’ Engr. Brian S. GErundo, environmental specialist; Penro Nestor Canda; Engr. MarcelinoT. Tabuco, TECHCOM chairman; provincial administrator Alfonso Damalerio II; Dauis Mayor Miriam Sumaylo; Panglao Mayor Nila Montero; Mr. Danny Reyes, president of the land owners association affected by the project, consultants of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and other stakeholders.

ECC and Facilities

The project, dubbed as New Bohol Airport Construction and Sustainable Environment Protection Project (NBACSPP), formerly known as Panglao Island Airport Development Project (PIADP) has been granted by the DENR of the Environmental Compliance Certificate No. ECC-RO7-1304-0074, formerly ECC-RO7-0804-0133-25 signed by Cunado and Quililan. Under the ECC, the project with 216 hectares is located in barangays Bolod, Danao, Tawala and Lourdes, all in Panglao island. The plans include the construction of 2,000 meters long (formerly 2,500 meters) by 75 meters paved runway and shoulders on each side; 250 meters by 161 meters for parking area; two taxi ways from the apron to the runway. The ECC however showed that for long term development, the runway may be extended to some 3,400 meters. It will have a passenger terminal building with an area of 8,748 (sq) meters (formerly 7,600 sq. m.); 978 sq. m. cargo terminal; 1,600 sq, m. administration (formerly 1,000 sq.m.), the ECC showed. Expansion of terminal building is also being considered by 20,000 sq.m. and expansion of the apron “to accommodate a total of seven (7) aircrafts and expansion of cargo terminal building and administration building; and improvement of crash-fire-rescue facility.

Included in the facilities are: air traffic control tower; crash-fire-rescue; airport maintenance building; airport utilities; visual and navigational equipment; power house and installation of standby generator; airport security fence; airport perimeter road with an area of 9.145 kms; and airport access road of 3.516 kms. The ECC amendments also include additional facilities, such as Instrumental Landing System (ILS very high Omni directional radio); soaking yard /ponding area; Aeronotical Ground Light; Apron of 161 m x 300m; runway strip of 2,000m x 45m; and provision of the additional taxiway and access road. The ECC provides that the “proponent shall ensure that all commitments, appropriate mitigating/enhancement measures and monitoring requirements” and its modifications “shall be instituted and strictly implemented throughout the project implementation.” The EC also requires the project proponent to establish and maintain a private nursery of 572,500 seedlings (formerly only 200,000 seedlings) to support P-Noy’s Green Philippines Master Plan for planting activities to replenish the destruction of vegetation in the airport area in the course of project construction, said Penro Nestor Canda. The purpose of which is “to serve as buffer and compensate the removal of vegetation caused by the project implementation.” The planted trees shall be maintained and monitored throughout the lifespan of the project, the ECC provides.

MOA, Project components

The project’s Environmental management Plan was also tackled by the MMT with emphasis on the following: Plans on Impact Management, social development, information education and communication, emergency response, and abandonment plan. The MOA provides for the creation of the MMT composed of DENR; DENR-EMB; DOTC; Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP); Bohol provincial government; municipalities of Panglao and Dauis; and barangays of Danao, Bolod, Tawala and Lourdes; accredited non-government organizations, such as the Panglao Landowners Association multi-prpose cooperative; and academe, such as the Holy Name University and Bohol Island State University; and other concerned agencies, such as DENR-PENRO and Department of Tourism. The MMT is mandated to monitor project compliance as stipulate din the ECC; validate proponent’s self-monitoring; receive complaints and gather important information; prepare and integrate and disseminate monitoring reports to the stakeholders in the community; and make regular submission of report.

The MOA provides for the establishment of what it called as Environmental Management Fund (EMF) to support the MMT activities based on the approved annual work and financial plan. DOTC is required to open an account for the said fund to the tune of PhP794,800 to fund the organization of the MMT. The MOA also provides for the establishment of the Environmental Guarantee Fund (EGF) in the amount of one million pesos (Php1-million) in trust. It shall be used to rehabilitate the areas affected by the clearing of vegetation and damages to the environment and its deterioration as a direct result of the construction and operation of the project. The fund is also intended for the conduct of the scientific and research studies that affect or related to the project and contingency clean-up activities, environmental enhancement measures, damage prevention and social equity, such as livelihood, and social development programs. EGF cash fund of another one million pesos is also being stipulated in the MOA. This is mainly earmarked for“immediate rehabilitation an compensation of affected communities in case of damage or accients” aside from to cover the operational costs of the EGF committee, the MOA said. The EGF committee to do the management and administration is composed of Environmental Management Bureau (EMB-7) as the chairman. The DOTC is the vice-chair; and Bohol provincial government, municipalities of Panglao and Dauis, members.