Tacloban Airport rehab delayed two more years

Manila Times
Thursday, January 11, 2007


TACLOBAN, Leyte: The modernization of the Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport, popularly known as Tacloban Airport, worth P3.36 billion has been delayed for another two years because of lack of local counterpart fund.

The project was under the Selected Airports Development Project of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) financed by the Japan Bank of International Cooperation.

It will be noted that the amount is part of the P11.713-billion yen loan agreement, which was signed by the Philippine government and JBIC in May 2001 in Tokyo, Japan.
Government funds for the airport worth P600 million were among those realigned to purchase search-and-rescue vessels for the DOTC.

A total of P165.5 million has been realigned from the airport’s projects to the DOTC follow-on search and rescue vessels acquisition project.

Victor A. Domingo, presidential assistant for Eastern Visayas, said the project will still be included in the government’s 2004-10 Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan, but its target date has been moved from September 2007 to 2009.

Domingo said that he would bat for the counterpart funds for the airport project in the 2008 budget.

“This project has been much delayed. That’s why I will ask the President to include counterpart funds for this project in the 2008 national budget so that the rehabilitation could start,” Domingo said.

On the other hand, Mayor Alfredo T. Romualdez Sr. of Tacloban said it is now up to the DOTC to fully execute the project.

Romualdez said the city government has donated a relocation site for the families who were displaced by the project.

The upgrading of the airport will convert its aviation standards and cope with the increasing air traffic demand of Tacloban and the whole of Eastern Visayas. It is considered the growth center of Eastern Visayas and one of the conduit airports in the country.

The project involves the construction of a new two-level passenger terminal building complete with all the amenities needed by the traveling public.

The terminal building will be provided with escalators, elevators and two boarding bridges.
Besides the passenger terminal building, a separate new and larger cargo terminal building will also be constructed to cope with the demand.

To accommodate wide body jet aircraft like Airbus 330 and the like, the existing runway will be strengthened by 127 centimeters asphalt overlay, and a new aircraft parking will also be constructed that could accommodate jet aircraft at any given time.

As a protection from the normal shore erosion, a reclamation work of approximately four hectares will be undertaken and an appropriate seawall will be constructed.

Also, installation of intermediate landing system, precision approach lighting and other necessary new air navigational facilities and equipment will be undertaken to further enhance the safety of aircrafts during night operations and during inclement weather condition.
For the convenience of the departing and arriving passengers as well as their well-wishers, a
246-slot car-parking area will be provided.--PNA