NEDA official reiterates need to upgrade Tacloban DZR Airport

TACLOBAN CITY – An official of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) reiterated the need to upgrade the Tacloban Airport, a project that have been in the pipeline for more than a decade now.

But NEDA Regional Director Bonifacio Uy is seeing a glimmer of hope following President Aquino’s declaration in his latest State of the Nation Address that the facility is being considered for improvement.

“The improvement of the airport will bring about economic breakthrough with more tourists coming in and facilitate trade of our local products,” Uy told reporters in the sidelines of economic data presentation early this week.

With the absence of big funding, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) is largely dependent on its regular budget to upgrade some of the airport’s facility, said CAAP area manager Antonio Alfonso.

Politicians including then Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo have made pronouncements to push through the Tacloban Daniel Z. Romualdez(DZR Airport redevelopment.

Last May 2009, no less than Arroyo lowered the time capsule of the proposed P155-million airport terminal building on a 4,899.96 square meter portion of the airport complex.

 Prior to that, there was also an original plan approved by Japan Bank for International Cooperation, for funding in May 2001, the project was supposed to be completed September 2007. 

Aside from Tacloban, JBIC’s loan package included the construction of the Bacolod – Silay Airport. This airport was completed on time but the Tacloban airport remain undeveloped.

Tacloban Airport is a principal airport which serves medium range jets, the greater capacity and speed of which serves the transportation needs between principal centers of commerce, trade and population.

From January to June 2011, the region’s premier airport recorded some 505,217 incoming and outgoing passengers, 20% lower than this year’s volume, CAAP records show.

 In 2011, the airport hit the one million mark for the first time with 1,015,797 passengers. The CAAP noted 749,312 passengers in 2010. (SARWELL Q. MENIANO)

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Posted by lsde on Aug 4 2012. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.