BUTUAN CITY – The state-of-the art, newly expanded Butuan City Airport has opened following the completion of a P17-million development project.
THE new look Butuan City Airport. (CAAP Area 12 FB)
The Butuan Airport, a Principal Class 1 Airport serving here and neighboring areas in Northeastern Mindanao or the Caraga Region, underwent an extensive renovation late last year that involved the expansion, rehabilitation, improvement, and beautification of the existing terminal building.
With the expansion, the airport can now accommodate a total of 616 passengers, from the previous 248 passenger capacity, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines Area Center 12 (Caraga region) Manager Evangeline Daba said.
Available space at the terminal has been increased from 1,440 square meters to 2,016 square meters, providing a more comfortable and efficient travel experience for passengers.
Project scope includes civil structural works, architectural, plumbing, mechanical, ceiling, tileworks, painting, electrical, landscaping, and steel works, Dava added.
With the completion of the expanded airport, local officials and the business sector expressed optimism about the impact of the project on the community and the economic growth of Butuan as well as other areas in Northeastern Mindanao.
“This is really a big boost to our growing economy,” stressed Butuan City Mayor Engr. Ronnie Vicente C. Lagnada.
More travellers and tourists are coming in this city and Caraga region in the coming days, a local businessman here observed during the blessing and inauguration on Tuesday, March 8.
The airport currently caters to 12 flights daily from Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines, with its 2.1-kilometer runway capable of accommodating two 180-seat Airbus 320/321.
The inauguration was attended by CAAP Director General Capt. Manuel Antonio Tamayo, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Undersecretary for Aviation and Airports Roberto Cecilio Lim, CAAP Deputy Director General for Administration Atty. Danjun G. Lucas, CAAP Chief Financial Officer Marianne Raymundo, Daba, CAAP Security and Intelligence Service (CSIS) chief Ricardo Banayat, as well as local agency and city officials.