GASAN, Marinduque – The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), together with the provincial government of Marinduque led the inauguration of the airport’s rehabilitated passenger terminal building (PTB) and runway extension project today, April 11, 2019.
Guest of honor DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade together with DOTr Aviation and Airports Undersecretary Capt. Manuel Antonio Tamayo, DOTr Assistant Secretary for Communications Goddes Hope Libiran, Department of Tourism (DOT) Assistant Secretary for Mindanao and Palawan Myra Paz Abubakar, Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) General Manager Ed Monreal, and CAAP Deputy Director General for Administration MGen. Ricardo Banayat, AFP (Ret.), graced the event.
Located in Barangay Masiga in the municipality of Gasan, Marinduque, the rehabilitation project for the airport’s passenger terminal building, which cost Php 9,099,581.12 was implemented through the DOTr. The construction started on April 11, 2016, and was completed last March 4, 2018.
The rehabilitation project improved the 560 sqm. PTB by dropping the height of its ceiling, installing air conditioning units and X-ray machines, and replacing its accordion walls with glass walls, making it more convenient, safer, and more secure, unlike its previous design. The PTB is now also equipped with CCTV cameras.
Last November 9, 2018, the concreting project of the airport’s runway was also completed. Implemented by CAAP, the PHP 12,750,429.71 project increased the usable runway length to 1,533 meters of concrete from the previously 1,400 meters asphalt runway. The concreting enabled the airport to accommodate to turbo prop aircraft such as ATR and Q400.
The airport’s PTB rehabilitation and runway extension completion made the launching of new flights to the airport possible as just last April 1, 2019, Cebu Pacific subsidiary Cebgo commenced its Marinduque-Manila-Marinduque flights using its brand new 78-seater ATR aircraft. The new flights, flying three times a week (Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday), only takes an hour compared to an 8-hour land and ferry trip to the island. The airport last had regular commercial flights on May 2013.
The island province, which is home to one of the country’s oldest religious festivals, the Moriones Lenten Rites, is also famous for its old churches (Boac Cathedral and Santa Cruz Church), tranquil beaches, rock formations, and explorable caves. The government recognizes that developing an airport such as that of Marinduque’s will provide a boost to the province’s trade, economy, and tourism. – Marinduquenews.com