Study for relocation of Zamboanga airport underway

MANILA, Philippines —  The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is laying the bedrock for the relocation of the airport in Zamboanga, bidding out a P93-million contract for the project’s new master plan.

In a request for expression of interest, the DOTr said it is willing to spend up to P92.51 million in consultancy services for the detailed engineering design of the New Zamboanga International Airport.

The airport will replace the existing facility, which is the third busiest gateway in Mindanao, linking Zamboanga peninsula to the rest of the Philippines.

The New Zamboanga International Airport is expected to provide the peninsula with a larger facility for air travel. It will be located mainly in the villages of Mercedes and Talabaan in Zamboanga City, with some portions to be built in Barangay Zambowood.

The consultant will review the original feasibility study and master plan made in 2018.

In turn, it has to prepare a new master plan for the medium-term (until 2035) and long-term (until 2045) development pipeline of the airport.

The DOTr will receive eligibility documents from prospective bidders until May 14. The detailed engineering design has to be completed within 360 days.

Based on a 2018 study, the New Zamboanga International Airport is projected to facilitate 1.99 million travelers by 2030 and 5.94 million by 2040.

If the DOTr is relocating an airport, it means the current facility can no longer address future demands and the existing site has no more space for expansion.