12 contractors to bid for New Bohol Airport

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines — Finally, the New Bohol Airport in Panglao Island is now set for bidding next month with at least 12 Japanese entities expressing interest to participate.

Provincial Administrator Alfonso Damalerio II announced, that the bidding has been scheduled on April 15. Of the 12 Japanese prospective bidders, at least six already checked and surveyed the project site, he said.

Phase 1 of  the  project, which is the site preparation, is now being undertaken by Square Cube Construction, a Cebu-based company that got the P70-million contract covering land clearing and perimeter fencing of the project site traversing Barangays Danao, Tawala, Bolod and Lourdes in Panglao town.

Damalerio said Square Cube Construction already accomplished 40 percent of the work and the actual fencing could already begin in the first week of  April.

The second phase of the airport project will cover the water supply package, which will be awarded to a contractor that can start at any time when the notice will be issued. The work package starts with the laying of transmission pipes for the water system.

The third phase will cover the actual construction of the runway, terminal, control tower and navigational facilities.

Governor Edgar Chatto reiterated that the project will also be about livelihood and sustainable environmental development.

While waiting for the New Bohol Airport to become operational, the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) targets to complete the expansion of the Tagbilaran City airport by July. The expansion works will include an emergency apron.

The DOTC and the local management task group, headed by the provincial government, had earlier targeted that the actual civil works can commence this June. It will take around two to three years to finish, according to the study team of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The 2-kilometer runway, which includes the landing and navigational facilities, has been designed to accommodate night flights, and an environment-friendly terminal building.

Phase 2 of the Tagbilaran project will cover the extension of the runway by 500 meters more to make its span  a total of 2.5 kilometers with the completion of  the terminal.