LAGUINDINGAN, Misamis Oriental, Philippines – The state-of-the-art Laguindingan International Airport (LIA) is tentatively set to start operation during the second quarter or early third quarter of next year.

It was learned that the actual accomplishment, to date, is already 80.43 percent in two of its major components.

An update posted by the Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC) and Laguindingan Airport Development Project (LADP) stated that these components include the project’s Civil Works, the Air Navigation System and Support Facilities (ANSSF).

The scope of the civil works include the runway, taxiways, aircraft parking bays, passenger terminal building, operations and control tower building, power house building, cargo terminal building, maintenance building, cold water receiving station, administration building, and a waste water treatment plant.

While those of the ANSSF include the supply, delivery, installation, testing, and commissioning of the “ILS/DME, DVOR/DME,” and airfield lighting system with sole source Korean manufacturer, and those of the following work components: General requirements, electrical works – ANS and AGLS, electrical substation facility – high and low voltage electrical equipment, and ANS ATC Communication System, and Automated Weather Observation System (AWOS).

It was also learned that when fully operational, Mindanao’s new international airport is expected to cater to the increasing demand of air passengers and cargoes, and expected to boost the economic activities of the Cagayan-Iligan Corridor (CIC), and the Northern Mindanao Region.

Implemented by the DoTC under contract by Limited International Competitive Bidding, the project is expected be completed within 48 calendar months or four years – from January 18, 2008 to January 17, 2012.

It was gathered that the total project cost is about P7,853.43 million, of which P5,016.65 million or 64 percent is financed by the Export-Import Development Bank of Korea, and P2,836.78 million or 36 percent by the Philippine government as counterpart.

Of this amount, P5,296.02 million is allocated for civil works, P509.12 million for consultancy services, P708.14 million for Air Navigation Facilities, P218.64 million for the access road, P348.32 million for land acquisition and resettlement, P101.24 million for project administration, and P671.95 million for contingencies.

The island’s new international airport is located in the coastal municipality of Laguindingan in Misamis Oriental, or some 30 kilometers away from the region’s capital city of Cagayan de Oro City, along the CIC, going west to the province of Lanao del Norte in Region 10, and the Zamboanga provinces in Region 9.