By Rey Anthony Chiu, PIA
Because development can't wait, the government is into P86M widening and bridges repair projects for the access roads leading to the tourist island and its airport.
"The projects are set to approximate the timetable for the airport operationalization, pending the ironing of wrinkles in the right of way acquisition for the multi-billion air facility," explains Engr. Edgar Damalerio of Bohol's first engineering district.
Speaking for District Engr. Celestino Adlaon, Damalerio said the widening project is supervised by the regional office of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
"It would be a disaster is for tourists and locals wanting to catch a plane but couldn't squeeze through traffic due to narrow roads and so they miss the flight," points one construction worker who is now in the frenzy of the construction on sections from Jacinto Borja Bridge to Vano Bridge in Poblacion Dauis.
"The land bridge that connects the island to mainland Bohol must be fortified, widened and paved right so it could carry the main bulk as traffic shifts to the proposed airport" added an engineer who supervises for the in the 900 meter road widening and bridges construction works.
It may be recalled that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has wanted Panglao Airport to rise well before her term ends in 2010. This she said during her State of the Nation Address when she bared her tourism super region plan for the Visayas.
According to DPWH –7 Engr. Rene Ye, the government is putting up some P86M for the construction and repair of the two bridges as well as the widening of the causeway sections leading to Dauis.
He also added that a parallel project is about to commence from Tagbilaran City's Sitio Ubos to Totolan Dauis.
Both causeways have previously been identified as possible bottlenecks as soon as the Panglao Airport lifts off.
At the narrow Vaño Bridge, Engr. Ye said the cost for the government is P4.337 to get the additional two lane extension and sidewalk done within 135 calendar days.
The bridge repair adds 2.91 meters from the edged of the old slab bridge and should put in 9.38 meters from the center of roads, Engr. Ye claimed.
In Bohol, people have started asking if the airport is definitely going to happen with the dying down of the news after President Arroyo launched the P4.7B project to be funded by the Department of Transportation and Communication last year.
The on-going construction works however ignites a new hope that Bohol may indeed be poised to fly economically when the airport gets into the wind.