DBM releases P265 million for Camotes airport

CEBU, Philippines —  The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has released to the Department of Transportation (DOTr) the P265 million funding for the establishment of a new airport in Camotes Island.

Cebu Fifth District Rep. Vincent “Duke” Frasco shared in an interview with the Cebu Provincial Government that there was a delay in the confirmation of the budget. However, he was notified last month that the allocated fund to start the project has been released to DOTr.

“Last year pa ni nato na request. Kalooy sa Ginoo…end of November, I received a message from Senator Bong nga nakapangita na kuno og P265 million para sa Camotes Airport,” Frasco said.

Frasco shared that the main goal of this project is to boost economic activities on the island most especially that Camotes is known as one of the tourist destinations in Cebu Province.

This is also to cut off the long travel time from mainland Cebu since the only means of transport to the island is by the sea.

To recall, an ocular inspection was made last November 2019 by GMR Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation (GMCAC) and Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) along with the Cebu Provincial Government for a possible airport in Camotes Island.

MCIAA agreed on the project’s viability and will be an official partner with the development.

The proposed Camotes Cebu Domestic Airport will have a 1.8-kilometer airstrip and will be soon constructed on a property of Cebu Province in the Municipality of San Francisco. — Ericailah Gerasmio, CNU Intern, GMR (FREEMAN)