New international airport terminal to start construction first half of 2012

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Dec. 9 (PIA) -- Actual construction of the new Puerto Princesa Airport Terminal building will begin by the first half of next year, Socio-Economic Planning secretary Cayetano Paderanga announced yesterday.

Paderanga said the feasibility study is now being undertaken by Price Waterhouse and Cooper International and is expected to be completed by the end of this year.

The secretary expects that the tender for the airport construction project will be announced early 2012. The construction is estimated to take four years and will be finished within the administration of President Benigno Aquino III.

The Puerto Princesa Airport Development Project has already been approved by the National Economic Development Authority Board and the Investment Coordination Committee.

The project cost of the expansion and improvement of the Puerto Princesa Airport Terminal is estimated at P4.4 billion or US$97.78 million.

This will involve the construction of new landside facilities in the north western side of the existing runway, new apron and connecting taxiways, upgrading of the existing 2.6 km runway and its strip, and the provision of new navigational and traffic control equipment.

The airport is a priority infrastructure project of the Aquino administration, in preparation for the increase of tourists in the city as a result of the inclusion of the Puerto Princesa Underground River in the New 7 Wonders of Nature.

(VSM/PIA-Palawan)