Bohol airport opening moved to next month
The inauguration of the Bohol Panglao Airport, dubbed as the country’s first eco-airport, has been pushed back anew to next month.
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said yesterday the airport is now slated for opening on Nov. 22.
It was originally targeted to start commercial operations in August, but was later moved to this month because of inclement weather and some details being finalized with airlines.
As of last week, the DOTr said the airport is now 95 percent complete.
The Bohol Panglao Airport is expected to accommodate more than two million passengers in its opening year alone, more than double the capacity of the Tagbilaran airport.
The airport will primarily use natural ventilation, while solar panels will be installed on the passenger terminal building roof to cover around one-third of the building’s energy requirement.
“To conform with its environment-friendly theme, sustainable structures were used, along with solar panels on the roof of the passenger terminal building which will provide 30 percent of its electrical requirements,” the DOTr said.
“The Bohol Panglao Airport also stands out for its sewage treatment plant that’s currently at 99.72 percent and expected to be completed by Oct. 18,” it said.
On Monday, the Department of Finance and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) inked a ¥4.376-billion (P2.1-billion) supplemental loan agreement to help fund the second phase of the New Bohol Airport Project.
The new loan from JICA is supplemental to the ¥10.782 billion (P5.18 billion) extended by Japan for the project via a loan agreement signed in 2013.
The first funding agreement covered the construction of the new airport, which began in June 2015, and included sustainable tourism development and the improvement of on-site water disposal.
Meanwhile, the supplemental loan will cover the extension of the runway to 2,500 meters from the current 2,000 meters, which will enable the airport to accommodate large commercial aircraft for international flights.