CAGAYAN de Oro City — Travelers using Ozamiz City Airport are expected to benefit from a new passenger terminal and runway improvements under a P1.142-billion modernization project that broke ground on Oct. 9.
The project includes a P720-million terminal designed to accommodate up to 494 passengers and a P422-million runway asphalt overlay and shoulder grade correction.
The improvements are intended to increase the airport’s capacity and improve its facilities.
However, travelers will have to wait for the construction to be completed before they can experience the full benefits.
Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Area Manager Engr. Job De Jesus described the groundbreaking as an important development for Misamis Occidental and airport users.
He credited the provincial government for helping advance the procurement of the two projects.
The project moved forward after earlier challenges involving land acquisition, with the provincial government, led by Gov. Henry Oaminal, working with national transport agencies to advance the airport improvements.
More facilities planned
Other planned improvements include runway lighting for evening flight operations and an international passenger area with designated spaces for immigration, security and customs operations.
These facilities could expand the airport’s capabilities, but the project details provided do not establish when the additional features will be completed or when international flights might become available.
The new terminal’s planned capacity of 494 passengers also does not, by itself, indicate how many travelers the airport will serve daily or how frequently flights will operate.
For passengers and nearby communities, the key measures of the project’s success will be whether the improvements are completed on schedule, whether the facilities meet aviation safety requirements and whether they lead to more reliable and convenient air travel.
The available project information did not specify the construction timetable, target completion date or the expected number of additional flights. These details will be important for travelers assessing when they can expect to benefit from the upgrade. (With a report from Jasper Marie O. Rucat/PIA-10 with reports from Province of Misamis Occidental)
