Gov't embarks on PHP1.06-B Tacloban airport dev’t amid transfer plan

TACLOBAN CITY, March 21 (PNA) –- The government will embark on various development projects worth PHP1.06 billion this year for the Daniel Z. Romualdez (DZR) Airport despite proposals to relocate the entire facility to higher grounds.

Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Eastern Visayas area manager Danilo Abareta said the budget is already approved, but they have yet to finalize all plans.

“The budget will mainly be used for rehabilitation of shore protection, improvement of existing terminal building and other activities, which is up for finalization,” Abareta said.

The CAAP official disclosed that the Department of Transportation and Communication has already bid out the PHP18 million feasibility study project for the Tacloban Airport, which is up for implementation this year.

“We will see what the direction of the Regional Development Council (RDC) whether to relocate or not the airport for the DOTC to decide whether to conduct the feasibility in a new location or existing site,” Abareta added.

RDC Chairman and Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla asked DOTC officials to present development plans to Region 8 officials.

But the governor’s mother, Palo town Mayor Remedios Petilla asked the DOTC-CAAP to look into the vulnerability of the airport to storm surges and big waves.

“We want to know what the direction is. We’re spending so much and yet the whole area is considered as danger zone. Why is the government developing an area considered as hazard?” Petilla asked.

In a separate meeting, Oliver Cam, vice-president and chief operating officer of Welcome Home Leyte Holdings, Inc. tagged the plan to transfer the airport as “political game”.

“Some politicians want to transfer the airport without consulting us in the private sector even before super typhoon Yolanda. The disaster became a scapegoat for them to push for that agenda,” said Cam, a private sector representative to the RDC.

Cam opposes plans to transfer the airports since many airports in the world even reclaim the sea to expand runways. “This can be addressed through engineering solutions.”

Citing studies, Malacañang has recommended the transfer of the DZR Airport to nearby Sante Fe or Palo towns because its present site is within high risk zones.

Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez strongly opposed the plan since there are many needs of "Yolanda" survivors that should be prioritized over airport transfer.

Romualdez added that it takes many years to build a new airport so it would be practical to focus on the development of the exisiting facility. (PNA)
JMC/SARWELL Q. MENIANO