Maasin airport on the move

For many years, the people from Southern Leyte and its neighboring towns have been awaiting for the full commercial operation of the airport in Maasin City which is located at Barangay Panan-awan.
The Department of Public Works and Highways Southern Leyte District Engineering Office (DPWH-SLDEO) conducted an inspection on July 14, 2022 of its infrastructure projects in Maasin City, Southern Leyte.
Former DPWH Secretary Roger G. Mercado and the DPWH team headed by District Engineer Manolo Rojas made an on-site inspection of two unfinished public projects implemented in Maasin City. These were the Maasin City Airport and the Guadalupe Seaport, which have long been considered priority projects.
“The directive to fast track completion of projects carries with it the task to regularly monitor the implementation of projects. Inspection of projects is very necessary for us to determine whether or not the contractors comply with the processes and standards set by the department,” Rojas said.
Inspection at the airport was particularly focused on the continuing extension of the runway for another 400 meters to add to the already concreted 700 meters. The runway extension work also includes the backfilling and earthworks of the deep valley portion, which is another 900 meters. The whole runway, when completed, will have a distance of 2 kilometers.
Mercado said that, when complete, this structure is enough to accommodate the operation of big, commercial airplanes.
Preparation is underway for the administration building and other building facilities costing more than P100 million, according to Engr. Rojas. He also said that this project is targeted to be finished in 2024.
DPWH/MPP/GMR