Aquino wants Panglao airport project reviewed

President Benigno Aquino III has ordered a review on the proposed construction of an international airport in Panglao, Bohol amid the environmental questions on the project. “Ire-review natin among others. Tama ba iyong Panglao ang gagawin nating airport? Sa Panglao kasi maraming naging issue, environmentalist tinatanong, iyong limestone na sub-soil kaya bang isuporta," Aquino told reporters Tuesday when asked on the progress of the project. The proposed Panglao-Bohol international airport is one of the public-private partnership (PPP) projects lined up by the Aquino administration. Panglao is known for its pristine beaches, which the President wants preserved. “Iyong ecological issues, mas marami kang tubig na gagamitin diyan, may waste disposal issue rin. Gusto mong i-preserve iyong pristine state ng mga beaches natin, iyong tubig," he said. Aquino said the government is considering just expanding the existing Tagbilaran Airport, also in Bohol. “Better ba, mas mabilis ba kung ie-expand natin ang Tagbilaran? Iyong Tagbilaran airport naman medyo matagal-tagal nang airport ito wala iyong ganung issues. Parang proven na, doon assumption natin na okay siya," he said at a press briefing in the province. He said the airport in Tagbilaran already has a 1.8-kilometer runway. He said regional carriers will need 2.5 kilometers of runway. “The expansion of Tagbilaran will necessitate mga 700 meters na lang, as opposed to building a 2.5 kilometer runway for Panglao. So, automatic medyo parang mas mabilis iyong 700 meters kaysa iyong 2.5 kilometers," he said. “Anong gagawin natin doon sa areas? Siguro estimate mga 10 hectares to put up the facilities necessary like the terminal. Doon naman (sa Panglao), siyempre from nothing. So, ang issue, habang kino-construct mo yan hindi pa nagagamit. Kung hindi natin nagagamit plus iyong issues na magkakaroon ba ng sink hole diyan? Ano ba iyong effect on trying to maintain the present environment that is the source of the attraction of Panglao," he added. Aquino said before his government proceeds with the Panglao project, he wants to see first the best solution to attaining the infrastructure necessities. “Bago natin pasukin itong investment, kasi from an initial P4 billion it is now projected to be P8.4 billion. So, bago naman natin gugulin yun manigurado na tayo ito ang best," he said. — Amita O. Legaspi/KBK, GMA News