AIRPORT INSPECTION. Transporation Secretary Arthur Tugade (right) inspects the ongoing development of Ormoc Airport in northwestern part of Leyte Thursday morning (May 9, 2019). Joining the transportation chief are Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez (left) and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines Director General Jim Sydiongco (partly hidden). (PNA photo by Sarwell Meniano)
ORMOC CITY, Leyte -- The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is committed to fully develop the airport here damaged by super typhoon Yolanda in 2013 and a strong earthquake in 2017.
Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said Thursday the presence of world-class tourism destinations in the western part of Leyte province has convinced the central government to develop the airport to attract commercial flights.
“The government is actively pushing for developments in Ormoc to help boost not only the city's but also Leyte province’s trade, economy, and tourism. Ormoc City is home to natural tourist sites such as Lake Danao, Tongonan Hot Springs National Park, and Alto Peak, the highest mountain in Eastern Visayas,” Tugade told reporters during the project inspection here.
The city is just 61 kilometers away from the famous Kalanggaman Island in Palompon, Leyte. Currently, tourists from Luzon visit the picturesque island through the airport in Tacloban City, which is about 120 kilometers away.
Located in the city’s Airport village, the airport’s total area has been expanded from 150 to 1,350 square meters.
The PHP34 million rehabilitation project, according to DOTr began on Feb. 1, 2018 and was completed in only four months on May 31.
Developments include the renovation of the passenger terminal building destroyed by super typhoon Yolanda in 2013, as well as the construction of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) administration building.
The Ormoc Airport’s 2,042m x 36m runway will go through developments with the ongoing PHP82-million asphalt overlay and strip grade correction project, now 61 percent complete; and a PHP55-million runway widening project, which is being eyed for completion in 2020.
“We want to fix all problems here to encourage airlines to operate here. Even if the passenger terminal building is already completed, we don’t want to inaugurate it unless the entire airport complex is fully developed.”
Mayor Richard Gomez thanked the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte for prioritizing the airport’s development. The President inspected the airport after the earthquake that killed four people in July 6, 2017.
“Ormoc is the hub of the northwestern part of Leyte. This is the right place to become a commercial hub for some parts of Leyte, Biliran, and Southern Leyte provinces since we are far from Tacloban City,” Gomez said.
Joining the transportation chief were Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez, DOTr Undersecretary for Finance Garry de Guzman, CAAP Director General Jim Sydiongco, and CAAP Deputy Director General for Administration Ricardo Banayat.
The transportation chief toured Lake Danao and Tongonan Hot Springs National Park after the inspection of the airport complex.
The 41-hectare airport, classified as Principal Class 2 by the CAAP, catered to 1,267 passengers from Air Juan and Cebu Pacific and accommodated 80,244 aircraft operations, including general aviation, in 2018.
Meanwhile in Manila, Ormoc Airport will be ready for commercial operations anytime soon, CAAP spokesperson Eric Apolonio told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Thursday.
"Currently, the airport is being used by military aircraft, as well as chartered flights as this could only accommodate propeller-driven aircraft," Apolonio remarked. He added that its commercial viability is not yet proven.
"Once the runway projects are completed, the Ormoc Airport could accommodate wide-bodied aircraft," Apolonio said, adding the widening project does not mean more aircraft can be accommodated at a time.
At present, the runway could only accommodate about two aircraft -- one that is landing and one that is about to leave, Apolonio said.
The airport is being used by Air Juan’s Cebu-Ormoc-Cebu flights and as a training center of Cebu-based Indiana Aerospace University. The Leading Edge Air Services Corporation has expressed interest to launch Clark-Ormoc flights. (with reports from Cristina Arayata/PNA)
NEW LOOK FOR THE PASSENGER TERMINAL. The newly-renovated Ormoc Airport Passenger Terminal Building. Deverlopment in the airport includes the construction of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines administration building. (PNA photo by Sarwell Meniano)
