TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, March 23 (PNA) — Finally, the New Bohol Airport in Panglao is up for bidding next month with at least 12 Japanese entities expressing interest in the project.
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.
Phase 1 of the project involving site preparation is now being undertaken by Square Cube Construction, a Cebu-based company, that got the P70-million contract which covers land clearing and perimeter fencing of the project site traversing barangays Danao, Tawala, Bolod and Lourdes in the municipality of Panglao.
Damalerio said Square Cube Construction already accomplished 40 percent of the works and the actual fencing could already begin in the first week of April.
The second phase covers the water supply package which has been awarded to a contractor that can start anytime when the notice will be issued.
The work package starts with the laying of transmission pipes for the water system.
The third phase covers 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 awaiting 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 two-kilometer runway which includes the landing and navigational facilities and an environment-friendly terminal building has been designed to accommodate night flights.
Phase 2 covers the extension of the runway by 500 meters more including the entire terminal complex will cover a total of 2.5 kilometers.(PNA)