Maasin City Airport Expansion Starts

Feb. 19,2010
Maasin City Airport Expansion Starts
By Quirico M. Gorpido, Jr.

Maasin City, Southern Leyte-The Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) has allocated P85M funds thru the persuasive initiative of Congressman Roger G. Mercado for the expansion of the Maasin City Airport which has just started recently.
This was the disclosure in a recent interview with DOTC Officer-in-Charged Danilo Boyser Quirong, 39 years old, married and a resident of brgy. Panan-awan where the airport was located
He informed that the construction of the ramp area with a width of 60 meters and 108 in length is being carried out by the contractor Pacific Eagle Construction.
He explained the size of the ramp area was designed for focker planes where it could position itself after it touched the landing field.
After the ramp area will be completed, he said, the next phase of work would either be the extension of 200 meters for the present existence runway of 1,000 meters or the clearing of apron in preparation for the construction of terminal building.
He said that the length of 1,200 meters with 30 meters width is the standard design for a runway intended for focker planes. He said the focker plane that is going to land at the airport has a total capacity of 60 passengers in one setting.
When all the 3 phases of constructions shall be completed, Quirong said further, the removal of obstruction like a hill near the approach area of the runway 34 shall be the next task.
He further explained that “runway 34” with accompanying numbers “16 North, 34 South” were the designated numbers assigned for the Maasin landing field. This is to differentiate it from other airports in the country for easy identification.

Temporarily Use By Flying Schools
The Maasin Airport is temporarily used by flying schools of Cebu, Dumaguete and Ormoc.This is as part of the flying schools’ designated place of destination for their pilot-students’ training stints, the DOTC-OIC also informed.
He disclosed that there were pilot students, not only from the three aforementioned cities but also from Bohol who have landed at the airport from time to time aboard two-seater training planes.
Furthermore, it is estimated that if the construction works are continual, the airport’s expansion completion would last for less than two years.(Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)