MANILA — A new airport in Bohol province is set to be inaugurated in October, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said.
The DOTr said the construction of the New Bohol (Panglao) Airport is 92.14 percent complete as of July 31, which is ahead of its 2021 target.
The construction started in June 2015 but accumulated up to 48 percent of slippage due to delays.
“We needed a catch-up plan for the Panglao airport. The 2021 target is just too long. How can you explain to the people that it took you six years to build an airport? Kinailangan po nating habulin at iyon po ang ginawa natin (We need to fast-track this and we have done it), DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade said in a statement Sunday.
Tugade along with airport officials recently inspected the ongoing construction works from the runway to the passenger terminal, perimeter fence, and the sewerage treatment system to ensure the completion of the project.
Since the new administration took over in July 2016, Tugade ordered for a 24/7 construction schedule to fast-track completion of the airport. The construction has seen a significant increase from the previous 6.48 percent completion recorded from June 22, 2015 to June 30, 2016.
The percentage completion jumped to 85.66 percent in two years.
The Panglao Airport will be the country’s first eco-airport as it will use natural ventilation while solar panels will be installed on the roof of its passenger terminal building which will cover around one-third of the airport’s passenger terminal building energy requirement.
“Everyone should be excited about Panglao airport. I am very excited. This is the kind of airport that we should be building, an airport that has regard for the environment and the future generations,” Tugade said.
The airport is seen to boost tourist arrivals in Bohol as it is projected to accommodate two million passengers more than double the capacity of the Tagbilaran airport. (Aerol John Pateña/PNA)
