DOTC Sec. Abaya signs award to Bohol airport winning bidder --------------------------------------- Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Sec. Joseph Emilio Abaya has signed the award to the winning bidder in a definitive update of the construction of the P7.137 billion new Bohol airport in Panglao by 2015. Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Chief Representative in the Philippines Noriaki Niwa congratulated Bohol thru Gov. Edgar Chatto that the ambitious project is “finally” materializing after some 25 years of planning and pushing. Abaya on Friday confirmed in his text message to Chatto that he already “signed the award to the winning bidder,” effectively dispelling a recent rumor that the airport project could not take off even until its target completion. JICA’s concurrence is most awaited for the official announcement of the winning bidder, awarding of contract and issuance of the notice to proceed, all expectedly before the year ends. “We already sent the documents to JICA for concurrence,” the DOTC secretary further confirmed to the governor. Equally certain, First District Rep. Rene Relampagos asserted that “we can definitely begin the construction within the first quarter of next year.” Consistently tracking the penultimate processes in Manila enabling the concrete implementation of the project, Chatto got this most anticipated reply also thru text from JICA’s highest official in the country: “Yes. Finally. Congratulations!” With the imminent start of the airport construction, Niwa asked Chatto to “expedite necessary works on the ground.” During his regular weekly forum with the media on Friday, the governor reported the inclusion in the 2015 national budget of a Philippine government initial counterpart to the Bohol project costing some P400 million. Foreign-assisted, the project is hugely funded by loan proceeds from the Japanese government thru JICA and targeted for completion in 36 months, according to Relampagos. Chatto and Relampagos led the government turnover of the resettlement housing units to the project-affected families in Panglao the other week, which itself signaled the start of airport construction. Vital Panglao and Dauis roads have been upgraded also in preparation of the rise of the modern Bohol airport of international standard. Once the Panglao airport is done and operational, the existing old and “obsolete” tagbilaran City airport can be converted into a special economic zone. The modern airport plan has passed through four Philippine presidents and four Bohol governors until its ultimate concrete execution in Pres. Benigno S. Aquino III’s and Chatto’s time. (Ven rebo Arigo) Boholano Community Worldwide BOHOL TAMBAYAN TAGA CEBU KA KUNG........
Posted on: Sat, 06 Dec 2014 06:13:47 +0000
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