BUTUAN CITY, Sept. 10 (PIA) - Despite rainy season, the Pacific Concrete and VT Lao, the two contractors for the repair of the Surigao City's runway promised to finish the initial 400 meters portion by November of this year, while the remaining 700 meters is due on February next year.

During the second visit and inspection of Secretary Martin Andanar of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) at the Surigao City Airport, with the presence of Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Surigao City manager Junelito Abrazado and Philippine Information Agency (PIA) officer-in-charge Abner Caga, the said contractors assured that schedule of the repair is on track.

Once the 400-meter repair will be accomplished, other airline companies like the Philippine Airlines will now have its regular flight schedule for Manila to Surigao and vice versa. At present, the airport only utilizes the 1,000 meters runway, hence, only the Cebu Pacific could fly and land with limited flight to and from Cebu City.

The establishment of the concrete and batching plant for the rehabilitation project is expected by the 2nd week of September, which will speed up the runway reblocking and asphalting for the initial 400 meters expected to be completed by November, while 10.26 percent has already been completed for the asphalt overlay for the slope correction of other parts of the runway.

Meanwhile, Sec. Andanar stressed that he works closely with the Department of Transportation (DOTr), CAAP, PIA and other members of the Ad-Hoc team to regularly monitor and inspect the said airport to ensure its full completion by February 2020.

It can be recalled that the provincial government of Surigao del Norte and Surigao City Chamber of Commerce requested the secretary to intervene and help fast track the rehabilitation of the airport's runway.

The widening of Surigao City Airport begun in October 2015 but did not proceed as planned as Herbana Builders declared bankruptcy and left the project hanging. (JPG/PCOO/PIA-Caraga)