By Nonoy E. Lacson
March 03, 2009 [ Manila Bulletin Online ]
JOLO, Sulu — Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan has briefed officials of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC) over the weekend and proudly informed them that the R232 million Jolo airport runway improvement project here will be completed ahead of schedule.
Tan told DoTC Secretaty Leandro Mendoza and his officials here that the runway improvement is expected to be completed by August – ahead by over 30 days on the scheduled completion of the project.
The project was started last Oct. 3 by the Growth with Equity in Mindanao 3 (GEM-3), in coordination with the DoTC and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).
Tan said the Jolo runway improvement project when completed will have a total runway length of 1,845 meters from the former 1,200 meters.
The project also includes the construction of the civil aviation buildings and facilities for safer airport operations.
The project also includes the widening of the existing runway from 18 meters to 30 meters, replacement of the asphalt pavement sections with concrete pavement and providing the needed markings for the runway.
Of the total cost of RR232 million, the United States Assistance for International Development (USAID) allotted RR142 million as grant and DoTC appropriated a counterpart fund of RR90 Million to meet the funding requirement of the project.
When completed, Tan said, larger aircraft used by major domestic airlines like the A-320s and B-373s will be able to land and take off safely on the airport here.
He said that when this happens, it will result to a better air transportation links between Sulu and the rest of the country and the world.
The governor believes that the runway improvement will generate more passengers and cargo traffic and will greatly support the economic development for the province.
He said the DoTC is the owner of the airport, and will be maintained and operated by the CAAP.
Both agencies will be in charge for the relocation of the military structures and houses located inside the airport property and clear the 150 wide runway safety airstrip of obstructions and construct the airport security fence.
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