New Puerto Princesa Airport to Rise in 2017
Puerto Princesa is destined for a new international airport set to open in early 2017 after the Department of Transportation and Communications awarded the airport expansion project to a Korean firm.
puerto princesa airport palawan
Image Source: Kumho-GS Joint Venture
The US $82.9-million design and build contract was awarded to Kumho Industrial Company Limited and GS Engineering and Construction, a joint venture, that will be tasked with the construction of a new passenger and cargo building, taxiways, apron, and navigation facilities. Work is expected to begin by the end of this year.
According to the Department of Transportation, the Kumho-GS joint venture will have around 30 months to complete the project with the goal of the modern airport being fully operational by the first quarter of 2017. When finished, the new airport will be able to accommodate approximately 2 million passengers annually.
The Puerto Princesa Airport recorded 1.34 million passengers in 2013, which is way beyond the 350,000 passenger annual design capacity for the existing terminal. The project will primarily be funded by a loan from the Korean Export Import Bank. The $71.6 million loan will be payable in 40 years with a 10.5 year grace period at an interest rate of 0.1 percent per year. In exchange for the loan, bidding for the project was limited to South Korean firms.
"The eco-tourism showcase that is Puerto Princesa, as well as the rest of Palawan, will soon have a modern, world-class airport, which we can be as proud of as the destination itself," said Transportation Secretary Joseph Abaya. "With beaches and other natural wonders attracting throngs of visitors from all over the globe, it will finally have a gateway that is befitting of its stature."
Abaya added that in addition to supporting the development of the tourism sector, the new project will also create jobs especially in the infrastructure sector. It is estimated that up to 1,400 new jobs will be created during construction alone. The Kumho-GS partnership will be required to begin the design component by the third quarter of this year. During the engineering design process, equipment will be mobilized and various permits secured in preparation for construction.
The Department of Transportation and Communications recently awarded the contract for the Mactan-Cebu International Airport to the GMR-Megawide consortium under the Public-Private Partnership program.