RUNWAY. Photo shows the rehabilitated portion of the Surigao City Airport’s runway which was damaged by a magnitude 6.7 quake on February 10, 2017. The contractor said repair and rehabilitation of the affected runway is expected to be completed by February next year. (PCOO photo)
SURIGAO CITY -- The partial rehabilitation and repair of a portion of the Surigao City Airport runway is now complete, much earlier than the committed November 2019 deadline.
Vicente T. Lao Construction and Pacific Concrete, the airport development project contractor, on Tuesday (Oct. 15) said the works on asphalt overlay and pavement concreting projects covering 400 meters are already done.
The airport development project, which covers 700 meters repair and rehabilitation of the runway, is expected to be completed by February of next year.
With the additional restored 400 meters of the provincial airport’s runway now ready for use, the number of flights by commercial airlines in the city to and from Cebu and Manila is expected to increase.
The airport was only utilizing one kilometer of its runway since February 10, 2017 when a magnitude 6.7 quake damaged a portion of the airstrip.
Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar, who was requested to intervene and help fast-track the rehabilitation efforts for the airport, welcomed the prompt action of the contractor.
Andanar also thanked the Department of Transportation for closely monitoring the progress of the runway repairs.
"Thanks, Asec [Giovanni Lopez]! We, Surigaonons, owe you and Secretary Art [Tugade]," he said in a text message.
He then requested Tugade to lead the inauguration of the runway once it is fully restored. (PR)
