President GMA proudly laid the symbolic capsule last Wednesday to signify the launching of the ambitious P4-billion Panglao Bohol International Airport, the12th in the country.

The aim of the President is to make Bohol as the center of tourism in the Central Visayas with its "world class resorts, unparalleled diving sites and the famed Chocolate Hills." The aim is to attract the "branded" hotel chains as the Boracay Regency Hotel Group and international players like the Shangrila and Marriot Groups.

These state-of-the art hotel-resort chains is supposed to address the current 2,000 room shortage in Bohol where Panglao only has 1,100 and the rest of the province 1,437 rooms only. Large tour groups and local organizations holding national conventions have at times been bumped off due to this room shortage.

Their entry will also supposedly rationalize the expensive room rates (especially in Panglao) where they are deemed expensive - considering that what we have is a "seller's market," in the words of the economists. No longer will the pricing be "what the market will bear" but in relation to the benchmark rates and type of services to be rendered by these world-class resort-hotel chains.

The Provincial Tourism Council has also noted the poor quality of some food cuisine and service of some resorts, hotels and restaurants.

While President GMA was emphatic that the power supply be adequate, however, it was never discussed that potable water is currently an island-wide problem while the Panglao LGU appears to be debating among themselves "who gets the credit and the underlying commission" of a viable water project there. It is a shameful tragedy for a world-class island-resort. Is PGMA kept in the dark on this issue? If Governor Erico Aumentado is using his iron hand selectively, this is one issue where it is needed - and everyone will applaud him.

We note this with alarming tone since the problems of room shortage, poor cuisine and service, expensive room rates and "no water" will stay with us for the next three years. For the simple reason that the vaunted Panglao International Airport will only be operational by 2010. Which means the resort-hotel "giants" will also be operational only by then.

We cannot for three years, contemplate our bellies and hope these problems will fade away. Because they will not without political will and concerted industry action.

The capsule-laying event (with construction slated in December 2008) does not, however, put to rest the issues raised by a Group of Concerned Boholanos (led by spokesperson Dr. Ernesto Pernia of the UP School of Economics). They are slated to dialogue with the Governor sometime in June.

DOTC Secretary Leandro Mendoza spat it out of his own mouth in his visit here that like Mactan, the Panglao airport will spur construction and real estate boom in the island and give rise to "industrial projects, parks and export processing zones." This especially validates the raised issue of the environmental vulnerability of Panglao once the above happens because it will destroy the attractions that we will build the international airport for.

The issue of environmental degradation is a serious one and the ancillary reasons for the airport (like industrialization and construction boom) are also the best arguments against it. What happens to the famous colossal biodiversity of the Panglao and the surrounding islets?

Already, a Boholano priest based in California Father Jose Galang of this city echoed the sentiments of many Boholanos in America telling the Chronicle: we want rest, peace and quiet in Panglao - not to be disturbed by the humming and sonic noise of jumbo planes whizzing above our heads while stretching in the sand, swimming, snorkeling and diving in the waters.

Some local tourists also argue that they go to another famous site Boracay in spite of the fact that there is no airport nearby.

DOTC Secretary Mendoza argued that after the "nautical highway", the
BPIA (Bohol-Panglao International Airport) will be part of the "aeronautical highway" to link the Philippine islands. Yet in the same event, he said: tourists are bothered by the hassle of airport transfers that is why the Panglao Airport was constructed.

To our count, the BPIA will be the 12th international airport for the country which has only 3 million tourists. Malaysia (16 million tourists) has 6 international airports, Thailand (14 million tourists) has 6 and Indonesia (6 million tourists with six times the country's land area) has 9 airports. Is this strategically correct?

Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) General Manager Alfonso Cusi said that the P4 billion will have no foreign loan component (probably in contrast to the overpriced P3.2-billion BHIP which was funded from JBIC and "protected" by Executive Agreements.).

Three billion pesos supposedly comes from the payables of PAL's Lucio Tan for "aeronautical fees" in the use of airport facilities and the P1 billion as counterpart fund from the DOTC.

Public accountants argue that unless the funding came from grants and aids (which need not be paid) or privatization of assets, Filipinos have a right to ensure the money is well spent. The BPIA will occupy 216 hectares with a runway of (total) 3.5 kilometers - including the extension.

That is the reason an NGO called "Procurement Watch" is closely monitoring the BPIA Project. For one - in the attached Airport Master Plan given to media last Wednesday, it seems the Terminal Building capacity (7,600 square meters) will host an assumed 969,000 passengers a year or capacity of near 500 at any one time. Using simple arithmetic that means 2,654 passengers per day must land in that airport.

Is that a realistic figure? Is the airport built on realistic assumptions? Is it too huge?

Doubtless, no true-blooded Boholano opposes progress. Only iconoclasts do.
But let every project be "value for money" especially in a capital-starved, debt-ridden country like ours and let structures be erected based on realistic needs instead of building monuments of underutilization, inefficiency and miscalculations.

Juan de la Cruz needs every penny to address his (real and daily) need for food, medicines and shelter.

Let's cheer attempts to usher progress like an international airport - but let's push it with perfect rationalization and clean hands. Shall we?

For Comments: email to bingo_dejaresco@boholchronicle.com Or editor@boholchronicle.com