Co said that presently the Asian Spirit flights are temporarily suspended due to the on-going runway improvement prompting passengers to take the plane in the cities of Ozamis, Dipolog and Cagayan de Oro.

He added that it is an added burden to businessmen and passengers from Pagadian City who have to go to other cities just to catch up the flights.

Engr. Ernesto Bodiongan, the airport manager, said that the P28-million runway renovation started last May 8, this year and the construction works would take at least 10 months to complete, depending on weather condition.

Bodiongan also said that the P28-M is part of phase one of the renovation project intended to extend the length of the runway from its present 1,700 (1.7km) meters to 2,000 meters (2km).

The 2km runway would be enough to accommodate the big airbus such as the 319 and 320 planes that soon would fly from Manila-Pagadian, vice versa.

After the completion of the phase-1 renovation, another multi-million phase-2 construction will follow and this will also be funded by the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), it was learned.

As part of the project an office building will be constructed since Pagadian City being the regional center of the Zamboanga Peninsula Region its airport is going to be the center of operations.

The passengers’ departure and arrival area will be part of the improvement plan, which will also include a control tower station.

Based on record, Pagadian City Airport is next to Zamboanga City International Airport when it comes to daily air traffic.

Majority of the passengers taking the flights in Ozamis City are from Pagadian City and Zamboanga del Sur so that there is really an urgent need to fastrack the renovation and improvement of the Pagadian City Airport, Bodiongan concluded. (RAB)

Last update : 29-06-2008 01:02

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