CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (MindaNews / 31 March) – Bidding for the P14.62-billion expansion program for the Laguindingan Airport in Misamis Oriental will start this month by the Department of Transportation and Communication, Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez (2nd Dist. , Cagayan de Oro City) said the expansion program will include the construction of an additional passenger terminal building; its operation and maintenance; and development of its apron, runway and taxiway.
He said program will also include the development of airport facilities to meet the scale of operations of a regional airport hub.
“The project will be a Private and Public Partnership program. I understand there are a number of interested bidders already,” Rodriguez said.
The economic viability of the Laguindingan Airport has already perked the interest of Philippine Airlines owner Lucio Tan, according to Rodriguez
Rodriguez said he and Tan agreed that PAL can service the routes from Hong Kong, Bangkok and Singapore to Laguindingan Airport.
“The large number of customers from Northern Mindanao can support these international flight operations,” Rodriguez said.
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) just opened Laguindingan Airport for night passenger traffic with a Cebu Pacific Air Bus A320 landing at 10 p.m. last Sunday night. For a while, it could accommodate only daytime flights because of lack of equipment.
Under its development plans, the DOTC have earmarked P26.1 billion to improved the facilities of Laguindingan Airport and five other major regional airports – Puerto Princesa, Iloilo, Bacolod-Silay, Bohol and the Davao International Airport.
The Laguindingan Airport Private-Public expansion will be carried for 30 years under the Build-Add- and- Transfer system.
