Airports in EV re-opened to commercial aircrafts

CEBU, Philippines – The airports in Tacloban and Borongan cities and in Catarman have been opened to traffic yesterday, according to GMA-7 report.

After assessment showed that typhoon Ruby caused minimal damage in Tacloban, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines yesterday said the Tacloban airport was safe and ready for commercial use.

This notice to airmen, or NOTAM, superseded Sunday's notice allowing only military and general aviation aircraft to use the airport.

Tacloban airport's pre-departure area roof was damaged but was immediately repaired, and its area manager reported only minimal damage, as its communications and landing facilities and equipment were operational and in place.

CAAP said that, although it ordered all commercial airports open for commercial operations, landing and takeoffs were still subject to prevailing aerodrome weather conditions. Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, and other commercial airline operators were advised on the latest updates.

Armed Forces of the Philippines chief-of-staff General Gregorio Pio Catapang said, among the 41 airports around the country opened to air traffic was Borongan City's, which was hit badly by typhoon Ruby,

Catapang said one of the Air Force's Lockheed C-130 cargo planes, loaded with relief goods and other materials, safely landed in Borongan at 10:30 a.m. yesterday, after taking off from Puerto Princesa in Palawan an hour earlier.

Upon landing, Air Force personnel immediately set up an air-control unit, which will allow planes, both civilian and military, to make safe landings and take-offs.

The AFP chief also said the first C-130 plane in Borongan City, after loading its relief cargo, will be flown back to Cebu City, where it will be reloaded again with needed emergency supplies and flown again to the capital city of Eastern Samar.

Catapang also said that all road networks in Samar are now passable to traffic, albeit some roads are operating at one-lane capacity due to ongoing clearing operations. — From the wires