‘Green’ Bohol airport now operates at night

TAGBILARAN CITY—Bohol province’s airport can now service night flights, prompting officials to say visiting one of the country’s top tourism destinations would now be more convenient and affordable.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Wednesday (Sept. 4) announced the opening of night flights of the Bohol-Panglao International Airport, tagged as the country’s first eco-friendly airport, with the installation of more navigation systems capable of guiding planes at night.

As a result the DOTr said there would be more flights to and from Bohol, which could lower airfare.

The airport has been operating for 16 hours from 12 hours since Sept. 1 following the use of the additional ground-based navigation systems which complement the airport’s existing satellite-based navigation system. The additional system could also guide flights during bad weather when pilots have nearly zero visibility of the runway.

Director General Jim Sydiongco, of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, said extended hours of operation was part of the airport’s continuing development.

“The more flights we can accommodate, the more benefits we can offer to our air passengers,” he said, singing praises to Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade for his “focal guidance.”

“We do not just stop at building airports,” said Sydiongco.

He said airport improvement would translate to economic benefits for Bohol.

The airport was inaugurated by President Rodrigo Duterte on Nov. 27, 2018. Dubbed as “Green Gateway to the World,” the P8.9-billion airport uses solar power for its hot water supply and saves up to 18 tons of carbon emissions per year. Its only shortcoming, until it was solved, was it could not service night flights./TSB