The United States Armed Forces through the Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines (JSOTF-P) is set to rehabilitate the runway of the Zamboanga International Airport (ZIA).
This was announced by ZIA manager Danilo Abareta, citing the repair works at the 1.8 kilometer runway will start by the first week of August this year.
However, Abareta said he doesn’t have any idea how much the project cost, citing “we have not discussed about the cost of the rehabilitation.”
“Definitely, it will be the whole runway that will be rehabilitated,” Abareta said.
He said the repair works will be undertaken by Filipino contractors but will be under the supervision of the JSOTF-P.
He said the repair works, which will be completed in two weeks time, will not affect any of the in-bound and out-bound flights of ZIA.
He said at present, ZIA has an average of 12 in-bound flights and 12 out-bound flights or “back and forth that is 24 flights.”
Among the routes served by ZIA are the following: Zamboanga-Manila; Zamboanga-Cebu; Zamboanga-Davao; Zamboanga-Jolo; and, Zamboanga-Sanga-Sanga (Tawi-Tawi).
Earlier, Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar disclosed that she has requested the JSOTF-P to help rehabilitate the runway since they have been using the airport for more than 10 years.
The JSOTF-P had been using the airport since 2002 during the joint military exercise dubbed as “Balikatan 02-1.”
Abareta said the U.S. Forces under the JSOTF-P used big planes like the C-17 “Globemaster” in ferrying personnel and equipment.
The biggest plane they have used so far is a Russian-made plane known as the Antonov An-124-100 Ruslan.
A handful of American forces are still stationed in this city as the JSOTF-P was recently downsized.
They assist Filipinos troops in fighting against terrorism through training and gathering intelligence.
Abareta said the rehabilitation to be undertaken by the American forces will be of great help since it would minimize maintenance expenses of the government.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=664987
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