Public-private partnership eyed for Ph4.4B Puerto Princesa Airport rehab

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, 28 June (PIA) -- Barely two years from the inauguration of the existing airport terminal, the Puerto Princesa Airport is up for another rehabilitation and improvement under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Program of the Aquino administration.

To meet the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the Puerto Princesa Airport will be rehabilitated and improved with a substantial cost of Ph4.4 billion. It is listed in the Projects for 2011 Rollout with completed Feasibility Study being reconfigured for PPP.

The rehabilitation/ improvement of the existing Puerto Princesa Airport includes construction of new landside facilities in the north western side of the existing runway such as passenger terminal building, control tower, administration & operation building, cargo terminal building, rescue & fire fighting building and other support facilities, the construction of 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.

Although only 2 years old, the enlarged check-in and departure areas are often congested due to increasing air and passenger traffic passing through the airport.

The new project will provide updated passenger services as well as improved efficiencies and aesthetic appearance to the Puerto Princesa Airport Terminal at par with international standards.

(vsmendoza/pia-palawan)