The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has approved P54 million to expand the Tagbilaran City Airport, which landing facility limits the number of planes, even prevents an incoming flight if an aircraft on ground cannot take off and is stranded mid-runway. A runway standoff in fact again occurred on Thursday when a ZestAir plane could not fly and was grounded for technical problem, causing a PAL flight from Manila to maneuver back and unwantedly repeating the maddening New Year's incidence. The budget was approved in the board meeting of CAAP yesterday, swiftly after which Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya informed Gov. Edgar Chatto. Abaya also relayed to Chatto the assurance from Brig. Gen. Rodante Joya, deputy director-general of CAAP, to “prioritize” the project, which is highly vital pending the rise and use of the new Bohol airport on Panglao Island.

Rep. Rene Relampagos, in whose district both airports are situated, a week earlier met with CAAP Gen. Dir. William Hotchkiss III, reinforcing the governor's lobby to correct with dispatch the city airport's glaring, nagging deficiencies. Prior to the approval of the CAAP fund, Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Sec. Florencio Abad has assured Chatto to allow the use of the money once the national aviation agency would ask for it. The CAAP has indeed fund to be used for the Tagbilaran airport improvement, the budget secretary then further assured the governor in their meeting in Makati City. The project involves the construction of a bigger new apron and a new passengers' terminal building to contain the growing air traffic while the modern Panglao airport of international standard is worked until finished in 2016.

Provincial Administrator Alfonso “Ae” Damalerio II reported during the governor's weekly media forum that the SVD community, which lot will be affected by the airport expansion, is open and willing to deal once the government formalizes its intent. The DBM secretary likewise relayed to the governor the assurance from the CAAP deputy general director of the inclusion in the approved P54 million the requirement for the lease of the private property. The lease agreement can be termed within five years even if the new Bohol airport is targeted for completion in 2016 and operation soon thereafter. The Tagbilaran airport improvement can allow the landing of two or three planes at a time - and even an ASEAN regional flight for the first time. CAAP and DOTC officials told the governor the additional apron is hoped to delist the Tagbilaran airport from the facilities in the country on which CAAP has imposed the “one-plane policy” pursuant to the strict International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) regulations. The policy, which has affected other similarly-situated airports in the country, disallows two planes to land at a time at the city airport for safety mainly due to its limited existing runway and apron. (VEN C. ARIGO)