by Alfonso T. Ruda
DIPOLOG CITY, JUNE
20(PIA)---The Dipolog
City Airport has been identified as one
of the provincial airports to be upgraded by the Aquino administration, as part
of its effort to improve services and facilities in the different airports throughout
the country.
This
was confirmed by Ed Cabalida of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines
(CAAP) based at Dipolog City Airport.
Cabalida
said the Dipolog City and Pagadian City airports in region 9 are among the
seven provincial airports being identified for upgrading.
The
Aquino government has appropriated P303-million for the upgrading of the said airports.
Of
the total appropriation, P55.2 million is allotted for the construction of the
Dipolog City airport passenger terminal building; P42 million for runway expansion
and construction of Pagadian City Airport terminal building; P62-million for
San Vicente, Palawan; Butuan City airport, P45.5-million for Sanga-Sanga
Airport in Tawi-Tawi and Maasin, Leyte.
These
multi-million peso worth of infrastructure projects is expected to provide
convenience to the travelling public, particularly the tourists that are coming
to our province.
The
initiative is also expected to boost local tourism potential in the province and
the two cities of Dipolog and Dapitan as it will improve passenger and airport
traffic handling capacity of our airport.
Local
government officials welcomed the effort of the national government to address
air-transport related concern of the
public, apart from increasing tourism potentials in the country.
Last
week, the Department of Transportation and Communication has invited prospective
bidders for the construction, rehabilitation and/or expansion of the seven
airports in the different part of the country.
Presently,
Dipolog City Airport is serviced by two airline companies- the Philippine
Airlines and Cebu Pacific, both with daily flights from Dipolog City to Manila.
Cebu Pacific is also plying the Dipolog-Cebu route every Monday,Wednesday,Friday
and Sunday. (ATR/PIA9-Zambo Norte)