OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
Effective Development Communications Unit
NEW BOHOL AIRPORT, A MODEL AIRPORT – NEDA
Gov. Chatto Presides PIEC Meeting
The New Bohol Airport in Panglao will be seen as a model for infrastructure and environmental sustainability. National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) region 7 director Efren Carreon revealed on Tuesday during the 2nd Plenary Meeting of the Panglao Island Executive Committee (PIEC).
One of few Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) infrastructure projects that has incorporated environmental sustainability, Carreon said valuable lessons can be learned from the New Bohol Airport Project as NEDA works closely with the Provincial Government and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Presided by Gov. Edgar Chatto, along with co-chairpersons Dauis Mayor Miriam Sumaylo and Panglao Mayor Nila Montero, the 2nd plenary meeting of the PIEC welcomed the presence of JICA Deputy Director Toru Yoshida.
The JICA official who flew from Japan for the meeting is convinced the environmental sustainability component of the project has been successful in its activities to put in place policies on tourism and conservation as well as waste management.
The more crucial part of the project is materializing the outcomes as the construction of the airport will start soon, he said, encouraging local government units to level up efforts to commit to the purpose of the project component, which is to craft a road map to ensure that the necessary measures and steps will be taken to safeguard Panglao Island’s natural resources from adverse effects once there is increased tourist traffic.
Both local lady chief executives of Dauis and Panglao reiterated commitment to strengthen local laws on environmental protection and management, backing legislative measures of their respective Sangguniang Bayans, and committing to enforce legislations.
In initial reports of the technical working group on tourism and conservation, standards for carrying capacities have been determined for specific and popular tourism activities such as diving, caving, and snorkeling, among others.
In waste management, the technical working group visited several wastewater treatment facilities in the Visayas to benchmark for the proposed wastewater treatment facility in Panglao Island.
Chatto, for his part, expressed full support to the PIEC as it strives to put in place the mechanisms to safeguard the environment as he revealed that the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) is finalizing its documentation process and should be able to facilitate the signing of contracts this month for the much-awaited airport project. (Leah/EDCOM)