Businessmen urge fast-tracking of repair works at Cotabato airport

COTABATO CITY, Philippines – A multi-sectoral group here has asked the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) to work for the immediate resumption of regular and daily flights of airline companies at the Cotabato Airport.

Since Nov. 26, 2013, the airport has been on a partial shutdown, closing four times a week, which has reduced trips by three flights daily, as the runway and taxiway widening project is being implemented.

In a resolution, representatives from the Board of Investments of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (RBOI-ARMM), business, shipping companies, government and media sectors, have specifically asked the DOTC and CAAP to conduct repair and rehabilitation of the Cotabato airport from 5 p.m. to 3 a.m. until the repairs are completed.

The RBOI-ARMM, headed by its chair Lawyer Ishak Mastura, has conducted a “Business Connectivity Consultation for Central Mindanao: Cotabato Airport and Polloc Port,” attended by multi-sectoral groups.

During the consultations held Wednesday, participants said there was no prior public consultation with the business sector and the flying public regarding airport renovation or airlines’ limited flight schedule.

This has caused travelers and businessmen to suffer since they have to pass via the cities of General Santos or Davao in going to Manila.

A formal request addressed to Mr. Vic Lao of Lao Construction that has been doing repair works at the airport urged his company to fast-track the rehabilitation and repair of the Cotabato Airport to prevent double-handling expenses that resulted in the rise in prices of commodities including passengers’ fare.

The business sector has suggested the formation of a monitoring team to be led by the private sector to keep tract of the on-going repair works at the Cotabato airport runway.