THE DEPARTMENT of Transportation (DoTr) has earmarked P213 million for the improvement of the Ormoc City airport so that it can accommodate bigger planes, according to undersecretary for aviation and airports Manuel Antonio L. Tamayo. At present, only a 72-seater turbo prop plane of Cebu Pacific commercially flies to the airport from Cebu and back. Mr. Tamayo, in a letter to Leyte 4th District Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez, who is from Ormoc and wife of the city’s mayor, said DoTr assessment shows the Ormoc airport is actually capable of accommodating bigger A320 family aircraft once the runway is widened at the ends to serve as “turnaround pads” for the bigger aircraft. Mr.Tamayo said about P85 million has already been allotted for the widening and it will be implemented before the year ends. For 2018, another P128 million has been earmarked for its continued development as well as rehabilitation of facilities affected by the magnitude 6.5 earthquake that struck Leyte last July 6. — The Freeman

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