There is still hope for the Panglao Bohol International Airport to be realized. Thus declared Rep. Erico B. Aumentado (2nd District, Bohol) who, as
governor, led Boholano officials in pushing for the flagship project. The solon made the statement after a series of moves to help the
Chatto administration save Panglao Airport. Appropriation Committee member Aumentado solicited the assurance from
Budget (DBM) Sec. Florencio Abad and Transportation Sec. Jose de Jesus
that the airport is among those considered for funding either under
the public-private participation (PPP) scheme of build operate and
transfer (BOT), or official development assistance (ODA) concessional
loan. The other source of funding being explored is a mix of Civil Aviation
Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) corporate funds and the national
budget with BOT on the terminal building, cargo and parking areas,
Aumentado said. The congressman obtained Abad’s support during Aumentado’s
interpellation of the budget secretary in the national expenditure
program hearing by the Appropriations Committee on September 2. They
discussed intensively ODA and PPP sources of funding for on stream
projects with feasibility study, detailed engineering design and
National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) clearance such as
the Panglao Airport and the Malinao dam upgrading. At one point, Abad stressed that ODA funding is beneficial because of
its long term payment and low interest. In another development, the legislator conferred with de Jesus’
undersecretaries on Panglao Airport and Ubay Airport development as
directed by the transportation secretary – on September 3 in the
afternoon. Usec Benny Reinoso, Usec. Glicerio Sicat and Usec. Mabini Pablo
reiterated the DOTC chief’s assurance that the Panglao Airport will be
included for PPP offer or ODA funding, whichever would be faster and
more favorable to the government. They said DOTC will conduct the
diligence review and validation in the light of some objections of the
project to be established in Panglao, including that of Dr. Ernesto
Pernia, University of the Philippines Economics professor. But they said categorically that Panglao Airport is in the DOTC radar
after Aumentado informed them that all the issues raised against the
project have been addressed and that foreign tourists prefer to go to
destinations near the airport as in the case of Mactan island in Cebu,
Phuket in Thailand, and Penang Island City in Malaysia. On the Ubay domestic airport, the undersecretaries said the project
needs a feasibility study which they committed to assist. The airport
is in the CAAP annual investment program (AIP). To cap his moves, the solon met Friday night the Korea Export-Import
Bank (Eximbank) and Economic Development CooperationFund (EDCF)
country representative Man Hwan Park and Korean Embassy Counselor
Myoung Joon Kim on the possibility of tapping Korea’s ODA for the
Panglao Airport development project. The Korean officials responded positively. They added that the Panglao
Airport is a vital support for Bohol’s Multi-Industry Cluster
strategy, tourism business and industry.
governor, led Boholano officials in pushing for the flagship project. The solon made the statement after a series of moves to help the
Chatto administration save Panglao Airport. Appropriation Committee member Aumentado solicited the assurance from
Budget (DBM) Sec. Florencio Abad and Transportation Sec. Jose de Jesus
that the airport is among those considered for funding either under
the public-private participation (PPP) scheme of build operate and
transfer (BOT), or official development assistance (ODA) concessional
loan. The other source of funding being explored is a mix of Civil Aviation
Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) corporate funds and the national
budget with BOT on the terminal building, cargo and parking areas,
Aumentado said. The congressman obtained Abad’s support during Aumentado’s
interpellation of the budget secretary in the national expenditure
program hearing by the Appropriations Committee on September 2. They
discussed intensively ODA and PPP sources of funding for on stream
projects with feasibility study, detailed engineering design and
National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) clearance such as
the Panglao Airport and the Malinao dam upgrading. At one point, Abad stressed that ODA funding is beneficial because of
its long term payment and low interest. In another development, the legislator conferred with de Jesus’
undersecretaries on Panglao Airport and Ubay Airport development as
directed by the transportation secretary – on September 3 in the
afternoon. Usec Benny Reinoso, Usec. Glicerio Sicat and Usec. Mabini Pablo
reiterated the DOTC chief’s assurance that the Panglao Airport will be
included for PPP offer or ODA funding, whichever would be faster and
more favorable to the government. They said DOTC will conduct the
diligence review and validation in the light of some objections of the
project to be established in Panglao, including that of Dr. Ernesto
Pernia, University of the Philippines Economics professor. But they said categorically that Panglao Airport is in the DOTC radar
after Aumentado informed them that all the issues raised against the
project have been addressed and that foreign tourists prefer to go to
destinations near the airport as in the case of Mactan island in Cebu,
Phuket in Thailand, and Penang Island City in Malaysia. On the Ubay domestic airport, the undersecretaries said the project
needs a feasibility study which they committed to assist. The airport
is in the CAAP annual investment program (AIP). To cap his moves, the solon met Friday night the Korea Export-Import
Bank (Eximbank) and Economic Development CooperationFund (EDCF)
country representative Man Hwan Park and Korean Embassy Counselor
Myoung Joon Kim on the possibility of tapping Korea’s ODA for the
Panglao Airport development project. The Korean officials responded positively. They added that the Panglao
Airport is a vital support for Bohol’s Multi-Industry Cluster
strategy, tourism business and industry.
No comments:
Post a Comment