From the wall of GCF Chairman and Albay Gov. Joey Sarte Salceda: Albay guv urges DOTC to fast track construction of SLIA By Mar S. Arguelles LEGAZPI CITY, Jan. 20 -- Albay Gov. Joey Sarte Salceda on Monday urged the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) to facilitate construction of the passenger, cargo buildings and other structures while civil works at the runway are going on at the Southern Luzon International Airport (SLIA) in Barangay (village) Alobo, Daraga, Albay. In his letter to DOTC Secretary Joseph Emilio A. Abaya, Salceda said the construction of the building structures and equipment will still follow it’s given time frame of June 30, 2016 target. He claimed that the completion of the airport runway, passenger and cargo buildings -- including its equipment -- is in line with the President’s main thrust of completing the flagship project during his term. Salceda thanked Pres. Aquino and Abaya for sourcing out from the previous Public Private Partnership funds and allocating the amount of P2.2 billion for the construction of runway, apron and taxiway which are now being implemented. He, however, said the scope of work is only confined to the airside while the structures at the landside area of the proposed airport is still being workout. Salceda further expressed gratitude to the DOTC for its continued support and assistance for the development of the SLIA. Once finished, he said, the project will not only totally address the technical limitations of the existing Legazpi Airport due to the frequent flight cancellations but it will also provide a safer air transportation to the growing number of passengers because of a booming tourism industry in the area. Abaya announced that construction work on the P979-million SLIA runway would start early this year, after giving assurance to Salceda that the much-delayed airport project will start soon in 2014 after project glitches will have already been ironed out. Abaya said in an interview that the agency has already issued a notice to proceed to the winning contractor, which he did not name. He said that with the issuance of a notice to proceed, the civil works will begin next year for the airports 2.1-kilometer runway in Barangay Alobo, some 12 kilometers from this city. Businessmen are becoming impatient over the delay in the construction of the SLIA. The businessmen claimed the delay has pushed back their investment plans, particularly on the much-anticipated increase in foreign tourist arrivals that the new airport would help provide. The government has already poured in some P1.6 billion since 2009 for the construction of the SLIA. The funds were released in three tranches: P300 million in 2009, another P300 million in 2010 for concrete road construction and site development and P970 million, released in 2012, intended for the construction of a 2.1-kilometer runway based on international standards. The SLIA lies in a 148-hectare area with 2,100-meter runway strip, to be equipped with night landing capability and take-off facilities, control tower, passenger and cargo terminal, car park, fire station and other modern facilities. “We are missing out on opportunities, especially tourist arrivals, as the Southern Luzon International Airport will reduce transportation costs and travel time,” Salceda said of the delay. The governor sees the generation of 1.5 million tourists for Bicol by 2017 once the international airport has been completed. While there are several airports north of Manila like the Clark International Airport and the Laoag International Airport, Salceda said, there is none in the southern part of Manila. The SLIA would be a viable market and serve as alternate gateway to Manila, the Visayas, and Mindanao, especially in times of extreme weather disturbances in these areas.
Posted on: Mon, 20 Jan 2014 21:50:10 +0000
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