A year from now, Bohol will already have a sunrise to sunset airport operation of international caliber – the New Bohol Airport in Panglao.
The project is now 22.34 percent complete and will be ready for a sunrise to sunset operation by June next year with day flights of international standard.
This was according to Engr. Edgardo Mangalili, Department of Transportation’s project engineer for the New Bohol Airport.
Mangalili presented an update on the New Bohol Airport during the pre-session of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) last Friday.
It was upon the motion of SP Member Tomas Abapo Jr. that Mangalili was invited to give a Power Point presentation on the status of the project.
In his report, Mangalili also said that the operation in June 2018 will start with day flights yet, but it will expand to a 24/7 operation by December next year.
The modern airport in Panglao can accommodate seven aircrafts at one time, six of which on tube docks.
Mangalili said it can accommodate large aircrafts for international flights and the airport will have immigration officers.
The day it becomes operational, the Tagbilaran Airport will immediately be closed, Mangalili added.
He also assured that the ongoing civil works proceeds smoothly with enough funding and with pace of work hitting the timetable.
The features include a terminal building that will “house domestic and international check-in hall, pre-departure lounges, offices for direct passenger-related services and building management, international and domestic baggage claim areas and concession spaces including duty free shops”, according to Airport Technology campaign site.
“The public concourse area at the entrance of the terminal building will have access to public toilets, car rental, bank and an airline ticketing office. The area will be connected to the car park area and the passenger terminal curb.
The airport complex will also include a control tower, air traffic control (ATC) operation and administration building, fire station and airport maintenance building, ancillary buildings and navigational aids building. Utilities such as power house, water supply system and sewage treatment system will also be a part of the complex.”
Manalili further said that the operation of the modern international airport will have positive impact on Tagbilaran City and the towns.
The status of the project was relayed to Gov. Edgar Chatto who also relayed it to the mayors during the culmination of the two-day local governance seminar.
In response, the mayors from across Bohol expressed optimism on the inevitable economic growth that will boost the present business climate and lure more investors.
Mangalili earlier debunked reports indicating that the completion of the project lags behind the timetable.
Officials of the Japanese Airport Consultants (JAC) and Chiyoda-Mitsubishi Joint Venture (CMJV) had assured that they are moving “double time” to finish the project on time.
The present site of the Tagbilaran City Airport will be developed into a business park when aviation system would be transferred to Panglao.
The eyed business park is already included in the Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) of Tagbilaran City.
On its last stretch of operation, the Tagbilaran City Airport will start to cater to international flights on June 22 where the Philippine Airlines will open daily direct flights from Incheon, Seoul Korea to Tagbilaran City.
The Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO) already completed the blueprint for the eyed monorail system’s other connections to nearby municipalities.
The stations of the monorail system will be set up at the future Bohol Business Park to cater to commuters going to the New Bohol Airport in Panglao, and the towns of Albur, Corella and Maribojoc, and back.
Bohol’s first monorail system will initially serve these four routes and will be expanded to other areas of the province.