As of this writing, there seem to be a few issues left in the construction of the multi-billion-peso Tacloban Airport Development Project.
As mentioned here last time, Phase I is almost done, with the construction of the approach bridge the only component left, but this will be completed in a few months. Phase II is ongoing and ahead of schedule. Runway asphalting works are way ahead of schedule. Within the year DPWH will start Phase III implementation. It already has a P1.5-billion budget for this.
Shore protection/reclamation and road building along the seawall will also be underway in a few months. This cost around P1.5 billion.
A lot of activities costing a few billion pesos are happening in this project, most probably due to the timely release of the budget and the constant monitoring done by the Regional Development Council.
The monthly monitoring by the RDC has cultivated a culture of urgency in the implementing agencies.
Culture of Urgency
The media has certainly been a big help in calling attention to the slow pace and the many inadequacies of the contractor of Phase I.
Now, CAAP and DPWH are confident that the new terminal building, with a 1,600 departing passenger capacity, will be open for domestic use by early 2026, thus providing more parking space for more planes, paving the way for more flights.
The airport will meet international standards by 2027 so that it can be appropriately called an International Airport by early 2028.
Feathered Issue
There is an issue that seems inconsequential because it involves only 2 hectares of the airport area, but the management of the Tacloban Airport cited that the possibility of birds colliding with aircraft needs to be solved.
Many incidents of bird strikes have been recorded in this airport, the last one happening last December during the landing of a Cebu Pacific flight.
The fan blades of this plane were badly damaged. It took three days to repair. The plane was flown back to Manila and reevaluated before being cleared to fly again. It cost the airline millions of pesos to repair the aircraft’s affected engine.
The incident could have resulted in a crash that would have endangered the lives of passengers.
Aviation experts say that when birds are sucked into the engine of a plane, the fan blades are bent or broken, and this can cause the engine to overheat and catch fire.
We call the attention of the DENR to act expeditiously so that the mangroves in the northern part of the runway can be transferred to a place far from the airport.
The CAAP is willing to spend for this transfer, but they would need the technical expertise of DENR to do it successfully. Both agencies must work on this transfer before another incident involving birds striking an aircraft happens.
A fatal disaster should be avoided through prompt and effective interagency cooperation.
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