Coming soon: Laoag, Kalibo, Cotabato int’l gateways

The engineering designs for the international airport projects planned in Laoag, Kalibo and Cotabato are set to be crafted as the government pushes for the construction of more regional gateways.

In a series of notices of award, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced that Urban Integrated Consultants Inc., an engineering firm based in Quezon City, had won the three consultancy service contracts worth P143.3 million in total.

The winning concessionaire is tasked with preparing the master plan for the three airports, which includes analysis of the aviation market and the projects’ economic feasibility.

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In addition, the chosen firm will compute the estimated costs—such as construction, operations and equipment acquisition—of the projects.

The company will also design passenger terminal building, cargo terminal building and administration building, as well as air navigation systems and other airport utilities like water supply system and sewerage system.

The DOTr received a budget allocation of P12 billion to develop and expand capacity of airports outside Metro Manila.

Bulk of the funding will go to the New Dumaguete Airport Development project (P6.1 billion), Tacloban Airport (P2.3 billion), Busuanga Airport (P1 billion), Laoag International Airport (P750 million) and Iloilo International Airport (P645 million).

The DOTr also set aside funds for Virac Airport (P280 million), Antique Airport (P125 million), New Bohol Airport Construction and Sustainable Environment Protection project (P90 million) and Bukidnon Airport (P50 million).

Its greenfield airport projects, such as the New Zamboanga International Airport and Siquijor Airport, got a budget of P200 million each.

Other locations with airport projects in the pipeline are Masbate, Naga, Pangasinan, Siargao, Itbayat, Maasin and Hilongos. INQ