Friday, October 29, 2010

CONCRETING OF MARINDUQUE AIRPORT RUNWAY FINALLY

To ensure the continuity of the operation of the Marinduque Airport that re-opened in 2008, a new project has been launched through the combined efforts of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), and the Office of Congressman Lord Allan Jay Q. Velasco of the Lone District of Marinduque. The said project involves concreting of the Marinduque airport runway amounting to some P 40-Million.


(Photo shows Raul Glorioso, Asst. Chief, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), Ildefonso Patdu, Asst. Secretary for Planning and Development, DOTC; Glicerio Sicat, Assistant Secretary for Planning and Development, DOTC and Congressman Lord Allan Jay Q. Velasco)

With the opening of the 6-star Bellarocca Island Resort and Spa in 2008, the demand for air transportation has inevitably increased and could only be satisfied by re-opening the airport.

Prior to 2008,the airport had not been in operation for four yesrs. In spite of the limitations of the Marinduque Airport with a runway covered only with asphalt overlay, two domestic airlines, Zestair and Seair started serving the airport with their smaller aircrafts. As other airlines like Cebu Pacific and Air Philippines also expressed interest to serve the airport, both Zestair and Seair requested the authorities concerned that the runway be upgraded so that bigger aircraft could ply the Manila-Marinduque route.

The Marinduque airport runway’s entire length is 1,400 meters, 500 meters of which needs further rehabilitation and 700 meters needs to be concreted. In 2009, budget for the construction of the taxiway and apron was already approved by the DOTC, the implementation of which, for some reason, was marred by bureaucratic delays but BAC resolution of award has now finally been undertaken.

Congressman Velasco, who advocates the development of eco-tourism in Marinduque, expressed confidence that the faster growth of tourist inflows into the island-province is assured upon the project’s completion. Concreting of the Marinduque Airport runway is now a DOTC priority project under the administration of President Benigno S. Aquino III.