FINALLY and irrevocably, the Pagadian City Airport in Muricay will be opening up for air traffic on January 2010, Mayor Samuel Co disclosed.
Speaking over the radio last Wednesday during his weekly program, Co said he was in high spirits after receiving favorable responses from various air transportation companies he invited to open their flights here.
Co explained the recent completion of the asphalt overlay, concrete runway widening with shoulder grade and apron repair has paved way for the airport opening last Dec. 20.
The mayor added that the travelling public will only have to wait for the official announcement of the flight schedules from the three airline companies—Philippine Airlines, Air Philippines and Cebu Pacific— which showed commitment to fill the Pagadian-Cebu route by February.
Co said he has finally ascertained the airport’s opening after he received the “Notice to Airmen” (NOTAM), a transmitted dissemination from the aviation authority addressed to all civil public use airports that its landing field is already usable.
“So dili na maguol para sa tanan natong mga katawhan nga kanunayng gasakay og eroplano nga sa dili madugay maabri na gyod ni atoang airport,” Co assured.
He predicted that the resumption of air traffic would increase business and tourism activities in the regional center again as it will likely be timed during the city’s Pasalamat Festival 2010 which falls in the third week of January.
The P379.46 million newly upgraded airport development project is one of the major Mindanao Super Region projects which underwent improvement since 2006. Last October, President Gloria Arroyo inaugurated the airport after it was completed two months earlier.
A source from the Air Philippines said their company will probably operate a Bombardier turboprop aircraft for the Pagadian-Cebu route while a Cebu Pacific official told this paper they will be having a probing flight using their A319 planes.
REPORT BY MICHAEL MEDINA