By Victoria Asuncion S. Mendoza

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan, March 18 (PIA) — The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) approved the improvement and expansion of two airports with an aggregate budget of about P103.4 million, to facilitate access in major tourism areas in northern Palawan.

It recently opened for bidding the Northern Palawan Airport Development Project to improve airport traffic handling capacity of the Cesar L. Rodriguez Airport or Taytay Airport located approximately 230 kms north of Puerto Princesa City. This is the gateway to world-class island resorts in the towns of Taytay and El Nido.

The project entails the concreting of 1,100 meters length and 18 meters wide of the runway with approved budget at P48.2 million.

At present, only a 19-seater aircraft uses the airport which accommodates guests from a nearby world-class island resort. Once the concreting of the runway is completed in 240 calendar days, bigger aircraft can land bringing in more passengers and tourists.

Another airport the DOTC has lined up for development is the San Vicente Airport which is approximately 185 kms. northwest of the capital city of Puerto Princesa.

On March 4, the DOTC issued a notice to proceed to a local contractor for the implementation of the San Vicente Airport Development Project with an approved budget of P56.1 million. The bidding for the project was awarded to BCT Trading and Construction in December 2012.

The project for the San Vicente airport consists of the construction of vehicular parking area, security fence, perimeter fence and drainage system, runway extension, and hill obstruction removal. Implementation is calendared for 360 calendar days.

The two airport projects are expected to sustain tourism growth and support related business activities in northern part of mainland Palawan. The projects also ensure convenient, affordable, reliable, efficient and safe transport which is a commitment of the department under the Philippine Development Plan. (VSM/TBO-PIA, Palawan)