Surigao airport rehab to benefit biz, tourism sectors: Andanar

MANILA — Expect a booming business and tourism sectors with the partial completion of Surigao City Airport’s 1,400-meter runway, Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar said on Saturday.

“The partial completion of the airport’s 1,400-meter runway is indeed welcome news to many, not just for my fellow Surigaonons,” the PCOO chief said in a statement.

“This means that there would be more flights between Surigao City and Manila, benefiting tourists, businesses and nearby provinces,” he added.

The partial rehabilitation of Surigao City Airport runway is completed ahead of its deadline in November.

Only 1,000 meters of the airport’s runway is operational since 700 meters of the original 1,700-meter airstrip have been destroyed by a 6.7 magnitude earthquake that struck Surigao City in February 2017.

The damage also led to the suspension of seven weekly flights of local flag carrier Philippine Airlines between Manila and Surigao.

On Friday, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced that the restoration of 1,400-meter runway will pave the way for flights between Surigao del Norte and Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport before the end of the year.

Andanar lauded the DOTr, with Secretary Arthur Tugade at the helm, for its “strong will” to fast-track the rehabilitation of the Surigao Airport.

He was also elated by the speedy repairs of the portion of the runway, following his intervention in the airport development project.

In June this year, the Provincial Capitol of Surigao del Norte and the Surigao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. sought the intervention of Andanar to prevent delay in the rehabilitation of Surigao City Airport.

“I would like to thank the Provincial Capitol of Surigao del Norte and the Surigao City Chamber of Commerce & Industry Inc. for entrusting me to intervene in the project following several delays, as they adopted separate resolutions in June, to elevate it to proper authorities and have special attention given to it by the government,” Andanar said.

The repair of the remaining 300-meter runway is underway.

The entire 1,700-meter runway is poised to return to full operational capability by February 2020.

Andanar vowed to closely monitor the restoration efforts to ensure that the target schedule for the full operations of Surigao City Airport’s 1,700- meter runway will be followed.

“We look forward to the full completion of the 1,700-meter runway by February 2020, as planned,” he said.

“My office will continue to be in constant communication with the DOTr and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, to ensure that the rehabilitation timeline remains on track,” Andanar added.