Panglao airport set to open by October

CEBU, Philippines — The formal launch of the new Panglao International Airport in Bohol is expected this October, according to the Department of Transportation, from the initially expected August opening.

In a statement, DOTr secretary Arthur Tugade said the agency "needed a catch-up plan for the Panglao airport."

As of end July, the P7.8-billion airport was already 92.14 percent and DOTr said it was on track to inaugurate it in October.

Tugade and other airport officials recently checked the progress of the construction works, from the runway to the passenger terminal, perimeter fence and the sewerage treatment system.

When the Duterte administration came in, the airport's completion target was originally set in 2021.

The construction started in June 2015, but accumulated up to 48 percent of slippage due to delays.

"The 2021 target is just too long. How can you explain to the people that it took you six years to build an airport?" the transportation chief said.

DOTr said both local and foreign tourists will soon land in an airport providing direct access to the island paradise of Panglao in Bohol.

The Panglao airport is dubbed as the country’s first eco-airport which boasts its green and sustainable structures.

The airport will primarily use natural ventilation. Solar panels will also be installed on the passenger terminal building roof, which can cover around one-third of the airport’s energy requirement.

It is also expected to boost tourist arrivals and improve trade.

The airport is designed to accommodate two million passengers, more than double the capacity of the current Tagbilaran airport.

The passenger terminal building has an area of 13,884 sqm and equipped with 3 boarding bridges and a baggage handling system.

The apron was likewise engineered to accommodate seven aircraft at one time, including large aircraft for international flights.

Earlier, Bohol Governor Edgar Chatto expressed optimism the province's newest airport will pave way for direct flights from Bohol to various Asian cities and even outside the region.

"The new Bohol Panglao International Airport can open to more flights to the Asian region and beyond," he told The FREEMAN.

"More domestic flights for easier access to other destinations in the country will also be greatly enhanced. Our current domestic routes due to limited airport capacity only include Manila, Clark, Davao and Cagayan de Oro," the governor had noted. (FREEMAN)