Rep. Erico Aristotle Aumentado (Bohol, 2nd District) and key officials of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) last week met at the head office to discuss details prior to the actual implementation of the project.
The P56.5-million Ubay Airport in Barangay Camambugan, Ubay has been bid out.
Director General Antonio Buendia Jr. and General Manager Raul Glorioso both of the CAAP told Aumentado of meet the minimum requirements prior to construction.
The new concreting project will cover 705 meters by 19 m. and 250 millimeters (mm) thick. Both ends of the existing runway will be widened by 93m by 12m.  The concreting component will cost P45 million. The detailed engineering design (DED) has been completed.
Attendant to a runway is a terminal building. Buendia and Glorioso told Aumentado that the building will be “modestâ€, to cost P10 million. The DED is still ongoing.
CAAP will also build a 5000-gallon capacity elevated water tank following their standard plan.
The proposed locations of the building and water tank however have not been included in the request earlier made to DENR, although Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Nestor Canda is now picking up and addressing the missing link.
Aumentado expressed elation over CAAP’s funding the upgrading, this being the request of his namesake father and immediate congressional predecessor Rep. Erico Boyles Aumentado. Following his consistent follow-ups, including the filing of House Bill 5889 seeking to improve the Ubay Airport and requesting funds for the purpose.
He said the House Transportation Committee chaired by Rep. Cesar Sarmiento (Catanduanes, Lone District) helped him arrange to outsource the same from the CAAP general fund.
The explanatory note said the improvement of the airport will be in preparation for the feeder of the Panglao Airport and the Mactan International Airport, flying school hub in the Central Visayas in the near future and even commercial flights.
To note, the Cebu flying schools have signified their intention of transferring to Ubay as soon as the extension and expansion are done and ready to use.
The solon waxed sentimental when he said the project would be a another dream-come-true for his father.
The elder Aumentado had been a “dreamer†who was able to implement mega projects, among them, the Bohol Circumferential Road Improvement Project (BCRIP) Phases 1 & 2, the Leyte-Bohol Interconnection Project (LBIP) Stages 1 & 2 and the Bohol Irrigation Project Phases 1 & 2 (BHIP).
He continued to envision more infrastructure, including a flying school and even a commercial airport for smaller planes on the other end of Bohol, opposite to Tagbilaran City, on the fist-shaped island – and a bridge to link Bohol and Cebu. (June S. Blanco)