Many people think that the
airport as a community's front door as it helps an individual’s overall
perception of a destination.
Over the past few years,
Bohol’s economic landscape has greatly improved. A new era for Bohol’s tourism
is emerging, with the opening of high-end luxury hotels and resorts in Panglao
Island, enticing more visitors to bask in indulgence and relaxation.
Tourism makes up 90
percent of Bohol’s industry and tourists are expected to swell with the new
airport.
After three decades, the once “airport in the sand”
is now a reality.
The P7.8-billion Panglao Island International
Airport, renamed Bohol Panglao International Airport, is set to open on Nov.
27, according to the Department of Transportation (DOTr). It will replace the
small Tagbilaran Airport, the current Bohol gateway and the 11th busiest airport
in the Philippines.
DOTr said the airport would be the country’s first
eco-airport to be dubbed “Green Gateway to the World.”
 |
| Your VRS with provincial Ae Damalerio at the new airport during a media tour last August. |
Bohol
officials consider the new airport an economic landmark and a game changer for
the province’s progress.
“An airport acts as a driver of economic growth and
development across all sectors. This will expand the production possibility
frontiers of Bohol, the region and the country,” Gov. Edgar Chatto said.
The benefits of an international airport far
outweigh its perceived challenges, Chatto said.
It serves as a backup facility to Mactan-Cebu
International Airport, especially if flights need to be diverted during
emergency.
As another entry point to the country, it helps
ease airport operations in Manila and other cities while boosting Bohol’s
connectivity to other destinations in the country and abroad.
Chatto said the new airport would attract more
investments, particularly those related to tourism, and generate local jobs and
livelihood.
“If a farming family is able to sell their produce
to a hotel or restaurant, is that not a benefit to ordinary Boholanos? If the
members of Tubigon Loomweavers Cooperative are able to sell their products to
foreign buyers, is that not good for the local economy? If our drivers, boatmen,
tour guides, room service staff, masseurs and reflexologists are able to secure
sustained employment, is that not a benefit to ordinary Boholanos?” he asked.
Chatto described tourism as “one of the world’s
largest and most resilient industries with 10 percent of global workforce.”
“Its
multiplier effect on various industries stimulates the local economy, which
results in reduction of poverty,” he added.
Having an international airport has been the dream
of five Bohol governors—Contancio Torralba, David Tirol, Rene Relampagos, Erico
Aumentado and Chatto—and six presidents—Corazon Aquino, Fidel Ramos, Joseph
Estrada, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Benigno Aquino III and Rodrigo Duterte.
The project idea started in the late 1980s, during
Torralba’s term, but public interest somehow waned. It was revived during the
time of Aumentado that drew the support of Arroyo though it had only a
P1-billion budget.
On May 8, 2008, Arroyo laid the time capsule for
the P4.2-billion airport in Panglao. The project went in limbo after the event.
It was only during the term of Aquino that it
finally moved.
On Sept. 4, 2012, the National Economic and
Development Authority gave the green light for the airport’s construction in a
resolution.
Funding would come from the Official Development
Assistance instead of the public-private partnership, a government program for
infrastructure-building that allows the private sector to participate in any of
the schemes authorized under the build-operate-transfer law.
On March 27, 2013, the Japan International
Cooperation Agency signed an agreement with the Philippines to build Panglao
Island International Airport at 10.78 billion yen under the project name New
Bohol Airport Construction and Sustainable Environment Protection Project.
Construction began in June 2015.
When then President Aquino visited the project site
on March 4, 2016, he said he was looking forward to coming back to Bohol no
longer as the Chief Executive but as a tourist. He might just be able to do
that soon.
***
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