With a strong potential for tourism and economic development, local officials in Northern Samar are now pushing for additional transport linkages that will benefit locals and tourists alike.
One such proposal - for a new airport in the eastern town of Pambujan - is now gaining traction, according to the provincial government.
In a statement, the Northern Samar LGU said the Department of Transportation (DOTr) has opened the bidding for consulting services for the new airport project.
The procurement covers several studies and plans considered essential to the preparation of the proposed airport, including the feasibility study and master plan, environmental and social impact assessment, and Land Acquisition and Resettlement Action Plan.
Pambujan is located 37 kilometers east of the provincial capital of Catarman.
“The proposed project comes as Northern Samar faces growing transportation and economic demands and as the existing Catarman Airport continues to operate within physical and capacity limitations,” Northern Samar’s provincial government stated.
With the opening of the consulting-services procurement, the proposed New Northern Samar Airport has entered a key preparatory phase. The feasibility study, master plan, and other assessments will help determine the project's technical, environmental, social, and land-acquisition requirements, according to the provincial government.
“If pursued, the proposed airport would be intended to address the capacity and aircraft limitations of the existing Catarman Airport, while providing infrastructure that can accommodate greater passenger volumes and future expansion,” the provincial government added.
The local government reported that the existing Catarman Airport has a 1,600-meter runway and a passenger terminal that was previously designed to accommodate up to 80 passengers at a time. The airport can also accommodate two turboprop aircraft simultaneously.
“These limitations restrict the size and type of aircraft that can operate at the facility, consequently limiting the airport's capacity to handle a larger volume of passengers,” the statement said.
A previous assessment cited Philippine Airlines as noting that a larger airport capable of accommodating bigger aircraft could increase passenger capacity and improve fuel efficiency.
Such improvements could potentially give airlines greater flexibility in pricing, including promotional fares, according to the local government.
Catarman Airport, the province's only airport, can only handle turboprop aircraft suited for domestic routes, while its expansion has been limited due to the rapid growth of Catarman's urban area.
At present, PAL Express operates turboprop flights from Catarman to Cebu City.
Aside from the airport, Northern Samar's only links to other major urban areas in the Philippines are ferry boats from Matnog, Sorsogon to Allen, which are utilized by buses coming from Metro Manila.
Recently, the national government has also allocated funds for a feasibility study for a bridge system connecting Matnog and Allen.
(With report from PNA/OpinYon News Team)
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