THE P2.2 billion access road and bridges in Cagayan De Oro City going to the Laguindingan Airport which is aimed at providing an alternative route is nearing completion, government officials said yesterday.
With the increasing demands in the country’s air traffic, and improving the safety, reliability, and convenience of passengers and operators, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP-10) Area Center has upgraded its facilities and infrastructures.
Even the public works department reported that access road projects are part of the continuing upgrades on the roads and highways going to several airports in the country to ensure the safety and convenience of passengers.
Earlier this month, Cagayan De Oro City 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez together with officials from regional public works (DPWH-10), led the inauguration of the completed FS Catanico Bridge in Barangay FS Catanico.
“Residents in the eastern part of Cagayan de Oro City will soon have a 29.5 km alternative route to the Laguindingan Airport,” said Rodriguez.
The FS Catanico Bridge is one of two bridges that form part of a major infrastructure project in the city - the Cagayan de Oro Diversion Road connecting Jct. Sayre Highway, Barangay Balubal to Barangay Indahag, Pueblo de Oro, then going to Opol, traversing El Salvador City, Alubijid, and finally to Laguindingan Airport.
Rodriguez secured P200 million in funds for the FS Catanico Bridge while the Balubal Bridge has a total allocation of P423.25 million, making the total funding for bridges amount to P623.25 million.
The total cost of the road network for the project amounted to almost P1.6 billion, according to Rodriguez.
“In total, P2.2 billion has been released for project implementation of the CDO Diversion Road, which DPWH estimates to be 70% completed,” he said.
“We will continue to secure the funding needed to complete infrastructure development projects in the city,” said Rodriguez adding that ", especially in the coming budget deliberations for FY 2024.”
Once completed, according to Rodriguwz the CdeO Diversion Road will improve accessibility to Laguindingan Airport and decongest the Butuan-CdeO-Iligan (BCIR) road.
“The CdeO Diversion Road project will also contribute to the economic development and tourism in the upland areas by encouraging international and domestic investments in the area,” he stated.
Other ongoing high-impact projects secured by Rodriguez include Phase 2 of CdeO Coastal By-Pass Road and CdeO Interior Road aimed at easing the traffic congestion in the city’s main highway.
Meanwhile, earlier last month, this year, Laguindingan Airport manager Job B. De Jesus, said there are several development projects going on nearby that will meet the needs of airport users.
In response to growing requests for easier access to restrooms and a wider range of food, especially from northern Mindanao, the airport added public toilets in the parking areas and built food stalls.
Also in Phase 1, 200 traditional streetlights and 95 traditional floodlights will be replaced with LED lights. In Phase 2, LED lights will be installed along the 4.6-kilometer road that leads to the airport. This will improve the area's atmosphere and safety.
On both the landside and the airside of the airport, a new structure with an archway for entering and leaving and a guard house will be built. Also, six guard posts that can be moved and four guard posts that are on stilts will be built. The project is set to be completed on April 27, 2023.
"The management is making changes to the accounting office in the administrative building to make it a more comfortable and roomy place for employees to work," he said.
By keeping its programs going, CAAP is keeping up with the needs of a country whose air traffic is growing quickly. It has also worked hard to make sure that passengers and airport operators are safe, reliable, and comfortable.
