Panglao airport feasibility to smoothen shaky issues

ONCE and for all, to seal the verbal atrocities launched by animated oppositors, government authorities have hired a Japan-based infrastructure consulting firm to render feasibility studies on the proposed P2.3B Panglao Airport project, sources said.

Department of Transportation and Communication Assistant Secretary Roberto Castañares, during a media briefing with national media said Pacific Consultants International Asia Inc. would do definitive study on the ambitious project, a national paper reported. By this, issues raised by Panglao Municipal Tourism Council Vice Chair Agustin Cloribel on the susceptibility of the airport to ground collapse can be technically seen and addressed. Days ago, Governor Erico Aumentado slammed Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Arius Ilano who reported to his Secretary that the mulled Panglao Airport needs to be reconsidered.

Ilano shared Cloribel's position that Panglao Airport is prone to collapse being on a karst foundation. Two separate technical studies have been so far created for Panglao Special Tourism Infrastructure Program (PSTIP) following the President's Memorandum Order No. 178.

The Department of Tourism did an Environmental Impact Assessment on the project and Tour Consult International of the World Tourism Organization did a detailed tourism development plan for Panglao. It also includes the airport of international capacity. “Include the results of the technical studies on the airport and the survey taking the Boholanos' sentiments of the projects,” Aumentado instructed PENRO Ilano. Again, like other major projects here, the full detailed engineering of the project is funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency, which has the prerogative of choosing the project consultants, DOTC explained.

The feasibility study results can be had in a few months, after which the civil works may start, Castañares said. After transferring administration from the Philippine Tourism Authority to the DOTC, the Manila International Airport Authority, DOTC has reportedly released some P110M for the airport's land acquisition. While it was not disclosed as to the land area needed to build the airport, sources said, an airport with an international capacity needs at least 2,500 meter long runway. It may be safe to assume that the airport needs at least 100 hectares.

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