ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has allocated PhP221 million to upgrade the runway and continue the rehabilitation of the passenger terminal building of the Zamboanga International Airport.
This was announced Friday by first district Rep. Celso Lobregat during the state of the city report, saying DOTr Sec. Arthur Tugade is very supportive to the plans of improving the existing airport facilities.
Lobregat, who chairs the House Committee on Public Works and Highways, said that PhP160 million of the total allocation will fund the asphalt overlay of the runway, which was recently awarded for contract signing.
The PhP38.9 million repair and rehabilitation project funded by the DOTr is 17.16 percent complete while the replacement of the two baggage conveyors is for contract signing.
Also included in the project is the purchase of 210 trolley pushcarts, wherein the pre-procurement is completed.
Last year, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has also implemented a PhP40 million asphalt overlay project at the local airport.
Meanwhile, Lobregat said the progress report of the feasibility study for the transfer of the airport to another location was already submitted by the consultant to DOTr last December 22, 2017.
The proposed site for the transfer of the airport is on the east coast of this city particularly in the barangays of Mercedes and Talabaan areas.
Lobregat said the conduct of technical survey on the proposed site will follow.
Lobregat has filed House Resolution 1125 urging the DOTr to endorse to the National Economic And Development Authority (NEDA) the proposed transfer of the airport and for NEDA to include it in the priority listing of the national government and the Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022. (PNA)
