A peek on the proposed new Tacloban Airport!
Finally, it’s here!!!
After being on the drawing board for about 10 years now, the rehabilitation of the DZR Airport now seems to be preparing for final take off!
So, without further ado, (drum roll, please…) here’s a peek on the preliminary studies of the proposed new DZR Airport Terminal Building designed by Danilo M. Fuentebella, FUAP, of D. M. Fuentebella Architects & Associates.
I have to emphasize here, however, that these plans are still considered “preliminary studies.” Hence, everything is still subject to change. Nevertheless, while viewing the sketches shown below, I couldn’t help but wear a big smile on my face. 
Man, about time, indeed!!!
The Tacloban City government has proposed to undertake the airport’s rehabilitaion project once it gets the MOA with the Dept. of Transportation & Communications (DOTC). Hopefully the City government could start the final drawings sometime this month as soon as the MOA is approved with the DOTC. Under the proposed scheme, the City will operate the terminal and the parking area while the DOTC will handle the runway and tower rehabilitation projects.
Construction of the the proposed new DZR Airport Terminal Building alone has been estimated to cost anywhere between PhP400M to 500M.
No less than President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo herself (gasp!) has reiterated the government’s commitment to upgrade the Tacloban Airport into Eastern Visayas’ first alternate international airport to boost the region’s bid to become a viable tourism destination.
The upgrade aims to improve the airport’s facilities to current aviation standards and cope with the increasing air traffic demand of Tacloban City and the whole of Eastern Visayas region.
The modernization of the airport has been repeatedly delayed after a botched financing plan which originally involved P1.3B funding from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation with the national government giving a counterpart fund of around P600M.
The original project envisioned the construction of a new two-storey passenger terminal building equipped with two passenger loading bridges, departure and arrival baggage conveyors, one escalator, three elevators, a flight information display system and security equipment.
Besides the passenger terminal building, a separate new and larger cargo terminal building is also being planned to cope with the demand. All necessary new air navigational facilities and equipment will also be installed to certify the facility as one of the country’s secondary international airports.
The country’s other alternate international airports, according to the Air Transportation Office, are at Laoag City in Ilocos Sur, General Santos City, Zamboanga City and Davao City.
In the Eastern Visayas region, the Tacloban Airport is considered a ‘‘trunkline’’ airport with secondary airports at Catarman, Calbayog and Ormoc and ‘‘feeder’’ airports at Biliran, Borongan, Catbalogan, Guian, Hilongos and Maaasin.
My special thanks to Architect Danny M. Fuentebella, FUAP, for allowing me to post these sketches for the benefit of this blog’s readers.
Update (March 10, 2008):
Many are asking what’s the current status of the proposed project. Arch. Danny Fuentebella says City Hall is just waiting for the MOA to be signed between them (Tacloban City Government) and DOTC. PGMA already expressed her nod on the project when she came to Tacloban last December.
Wow!!! Beautiful!!! Thanks, Sir!
Sorry, sir, I’m posting another comment. I ran out of words when I saw these pics… I am very very happy about all these developments in my beloved city. Na homesick tuloy ako lalo… Tacloban will be like Dubai with constructions left and right. hehehe Salamat kan Senor Sto. Nino!!!
WOW!!! Matuman unta ini nga project….
I am excited about Tacloban’s airport rehabilitation. I’m glad matutuloy na.
this is good for the whole region 8…
When I was in Tacloban last Feb. 2006, I took pictures of the proposed airport miniature that was in the pre-departure area of DZR airport. I hope this project becomes reality soonest! Tacloban deserves such an airport. Thanks for the update, Gerry.
Let’s be vigilant so that the actual construction of the airport would be faithful to original design. Unscrupulous contractors scrimp on cost and compromise on the quality and integrity. Again, kudos to Gerry for these photos!
It’s just great!
That’s very exciting news to all Leyteños. This will help boost our economy. Hopefully, matuloy din ang plan to build the new mall and hotels. Thanks for the updates!!!
That’s a fantastic looking world class terminal building. Are they also going to rehabilitate (extend them if need be) the runways to accomodate bigger planes? Salamat hin madamo Gerry for sharing this. Let’s pray the project is fulfilled.
ha? a new proposal? too bad, i liked the old pitch. just hope this doesn’t die.
WOW!!! such great news for us Taclobanons! hopefully it comes true soonest! this for sure will boost our economy. it will attract more tourists to Leyte and the region… thank you, gerry for this informative and nice website keep it up!!! ‘just great!
Wow… i got surprised when i saw the sketches of the proposed new Tacloban Airport. thought it was the time of MacArthur, this proposed plan…( joke only!) hopefully, gerry, you’d be able to post more photos here of the proposed malls and new airport as work progresses… taga leyte gihapon ako; sana diri na mabursa it budget..hahaha
Maupay it architectural design pero I’d still consider a typhoon-proof airport building. Dapat siguro may mag come up hin design from Capitolyo tapos along Magsaysay and all the sea line buildings around Cancabato Bay down to the Airport. Maupay it aton lugar, dapat upayon ta ini. I have seen Palm Island in Dubai tapos didi ha Perl Qatar nga mga man-made islands pero mas maupay pa gud ha akon it Tacloban nga lugar kun ma-develop ta ini … hehehe kuarta la kulang. Like most of the warays nga gusto maging maupay it Tacloban, upod ako gihap hini nga mga dreams naton.
even if this design is covered with glass curtain wall system, nevertheless, in today’s technology we can use impact glass which can withstand typhoon force winds. so i don’t see any problem with the design.
Michael Arteche posed this question earlier above: Are they also going to rehabilitate (extend them if need be) the runway to accommodate bigger planes?
Architect Danny F says plans only include putting an asphalt overlay to thicken it, no runway extension yet. The current runway can accommodate Airbus 320’s.
P500M with that design? That ain’t enough. Good project though, hope it pushes through
^^
900m
galing galing naman.. hehe
What’s the progress of this plan? Heard that this might take a backseat (again?) amongst priority projects because of the worsening political situation. Tsk, tsk, let’s hope and pray that this will push through against all odds… Sto. Nino help us!
Any development on this proposal?
Ano it status hini nga project? Damo nga salamat hit iyo response.
Ha ak pgkabaro(Radyo baktas) action plan to relocate residents nearby has already started which is obviously kinda not an easy task ..thats phase 1…….let’s not get too excited about this AIRPORT coz for me as of this time its not yet feasible to have another International Airport within the Visayas having Cebu International Airport just about 30 mins flight away from us. What m trying to say is that, going to cagayan will almost have the same travel time whether its coming from tacloban or Cebu. CIA could still accommodate these international and connecting flights for visayas and mindanao. Our local balikbayans alone cannot sustain the need for daily flights for such a big airport with a very high financial need for its daily maintenance. Probably 5-7 years from now when we have enough local overseas workers and international tourists coming back and forth our region or Cebu International Airport going fully loaded and lastly, with the same support as what we have now from the GMA administration. Of course i want this proposed airport standing as badly as you want it guys.
Speaking of “balikbayans”, if i may, does Tacloban have an incentive(s) or some kind of promotional program(s) being offered to them all seasons, at this time? Damo nga salamat hit iyo baton. (ipina-nganak ha Tacloban)
Baga waray man ako nababati-an nga incentive for Taclobanon balikbayans. What I know is that among the various fiesta activities, there has always been a party for balikbayans, “Balikbayan Night”, usually held either on the 27th or 28th of June. There’s no official Tacloban Fiesta schedule issued yet. I will post this once available at calle Zaragosa sites. Other than this, I don’t think there’s any incentive being offered.