DOTR: New Bohol Airport must be operational by August

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The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has reiterated its order that the New Bohol (Panglao) International Airport, the country’s first eco-friendly airport, should be completed by June and fully operational by August this year.

During an inspection on March 26, Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade checked the progress of construction of the airport, from the runway to the passenger terminal and perimeter fence.

“With what I saw, I have reservations that this will be completed in June. However, with the PMO (project manager officer) and contractor’s assurance that this will be completed in June, and operational in August, I will take your word for that. Now, make sure that you finish this on schedule. August this year, dapat operational na ito,” Tugade said.

DOTr in a statement said the airport’s PMO vowed to deliver the project as scheduled and without delays.

Tugade also ordered the PMO to form a committee to determine the various concessions to be placed at the airport once it is completed.

As of March 26, construction of the new airport is 80% complete, with the runway fully paved and operational.

For the second phase, an additional 300 meters will be added to extend the runway from 2,500 meters to 2,800 meters after the airport begins to operate. The runway has been engineered to accommodate seven aircraft at one time, including wide-body aircraft for international flights.

After taking office in July 2016, Tugade ordered a 24/7 construction schedule to fast-track completion of the airport. Since then, construction has seen a huge jump from the previous 6.48% completion recorded from June 22, 2015 to June 30, 2016, DOTr said.

Tugade’s directive, DOTr said, is consistent with his order to implement sanctions against private contractors that will not be able to meet their deadlines.

DOTr has issued a memorandum to stipulate that a work slippage of more than 30 days would result in non-payment, cancellation of the contract, blacklisting of the erring contractor, and hiring of another contractor to finish the project.

The New Bohol Airport aims to become the first eco-friendly airport in the country. Dubbed as the “Green Gateway to the World,” it will serve as the premiere gateway to the province of Bohol and the island paradise of Panglao, a thriving tourist destination.

DOTr said the airport will be held to the highest standards of green and sustainable structure, and will primarily use natural sunlight and air. Solar panels will also be installed on the Passenger Terminal Building roof to cover around one-third of the airport’s energy requirement.

The New Bohol Airport is expected to accommodate two million passengers in its opening year, a huge jump from the 800,000 passenger count that is currently being accommodated by the Tagbilaran airport.