TAGBILARAN CITY – Expenses in constructing the new Panglao International Airport has escalated to almost 80 percent and its chief proponent, Bohol Governor Erico  Aumentado is asking Malacañang to help him address such a cost overrun.

Aumentado has set a luncheon meeting on October 6 for stakeholders of the Panglao Bohol International Airport to address a cost overrun of around 76 percent. Aumentado, who shepherded the project from conception until the approval of its initial outlay, has been following up with Malacañang his call for assistance on the matter after the Philippines Japan Airport Consultants, Inc. (Phil.JAC, Inc.) submitted a revised detailed engineering design which substantially increased the project’s budget.

He announced over his weekly radio program, The Governor Reports, which is aired live simultaneously over two radio stations in Tagbilaran City, that Malacanang has agreed to meet with him over the problem and that the Palace, through Secretary Gabriel Claudio, has agreed to meet with him on October 6.

The Bohol governor had earlier communicated with President Arroyo, asking her to convene a meeting with the Panglao airport project stakeholders to solve the funding deficiency.

The National Economic and Development Authority-Investment Coordination Committee (NEDA-ICC) Technical Board had earlier approved a P4.2 billion outlay for the airport.

Aumentado said for one thing, the runway has been reoriented 32 degrees in order to avoid plowing into the Alona Beach resort. As such, there is need for engineering intervention, otherwise the airport would hit many crevices and depressed areas.

Price escalations due to engineering, administrative and land preparation aspects have raised the airport project cost to around P7.5 billion, the Bohol governor said.