Even as construction continues at the New Bohol Airport, plans are now in the drawing board for the expansion of the single level structure passenger terminal building of the New Bohol Airport Construction (NBAC) into a two storey building and the extension of the 2000 meter runway by 500 meters.
Tadasho Awoi. Japan Airport Construction Project
Manager of the P7.2 billion airport located in the municipality of Panglao announced the new construction upgrade to the Bohol media in a press briefing on Friday, May 20, 2016.
Both proposed major changes are now with the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) for review, evaluation and approval, according to Awoi.
“At present, passengers will be bused or walk along the ground level ramp to their waiting aircrafts. Provincial government pushed for the installation of a passenger boarding bridge”, Awoi said.
A passenger boarding bridge allows passengers to board and disembark without being exposed to the elements.
Since the building design of the passenger terminal building is single story, the installation of an initial one passenger boarding bridge will depend on the sill heights and the operational requirements of the aircraft.
The Provincial Government of Bohol foresaw the need to provide easier access for all types of passengers including those with disabilities and mobility impairments.
ECO FRIENDLY
The passenger terminal building of the New Bohol Airport will be equally natural ventilation and air-conditioned, according to Awoi and will be powered by 2300 solar panels generating 480 kilowatts backed up with a 3,000 KVA generator set with two emergency generators.
With an area of 8,300 square meters, the passenger terminal can take in an estimated 1.5 million passengers a year with separate passenger areas for domestic and international arrivals and departures.
According to Awoi, most international flights will be scheduled in the late evenings mostly from Japan, South Korea and China.
The terminal’s parking area has 193 parking slots to accommodate the expected increase in daily domestic flights and the estimated initial four daily international flights.
The 500 meter extension of the 2,000 meter runway is now under consideration with the NEDA, according to Awoi.
The decision to extend the runway was borne out of increased safety considerations during take offs and landings.
A nine story control tower will oversee the over-all operation of the airport with an apron where three Airbus A330 with a wingspan of 60 meters and 3 Boeing 777 with a wingspan of 61 meters can easily park.
The completion of the New Bohol Airport with its environmentally and energy saving features is scheduled within thirty months after it started on June 22, 2015.
A consortium of Chiyoda and Mitsubishi corporations is the main contractor of the project with Engineering Equipment Inc. (EEI) as sub-contracting partner with Japan Airport Construction (JAC) as the consultant.
The new airport sits on a 230 hectare area straddling the villages of Lourdes, Bolod, Tawala and Danao. (Chito M. Visarra)