Dumaguete airport extends operations

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines — Operations at the Dumaguete-Sibulan airport in Negros Oriental are now permanently extended by one hour, until 7 p.m. to accommodate late-hour or delayed flights, especially departures to Manila.

Mark Michael Anthony Diamaoden, officer-in-charge of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) in Dumaguete announced this Thursday, saying that the permanent hours of operations at the Dumaguete-Sibulan airport will now be from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. compared to the previous 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. operations.

Diamaoden, who assumed the post last December 1st, said flights from Dumaguete to Manila can depart on or before 7 p.m. with minimal night-landing equipment such as runway lights to support this.

The airport OIC chief said the number of flights at the Dumaguete-Sibulan airport had increased to accommodate more local and foreign tourist arrivals as well as cargo. Cebu Pacific had also requested the CAAP to extend the operating hours of the airport to 5 a.m. instead of 6 a.m. especially as there are days when they have early departures, he said.

Diamaoden said that, on certain days, there are six departure flights daily to Manila and other days, there are four. Also, there are regular flights to Cebu, he added.

Because of the extended hours of operations at the airport here, Diamaoden already requested the Department of Transportation (DOTr) for funding for a lighting project for the airport’s vehicle parking area.

He explained the need to provide ample lighting at the parking space for the security and safety of airport users. The DOTr is now planning to renovate the existing passenger departure and arrival buildings, which are currently separated, by making it into one bigger structure to accommodate more passengers, he said.

The daily departure flights for Cebu Pacific are as follows: four flights on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; two flights for Manila and one for Cebu on Tuesdays and Thursdays; two flights to Manila and two to Cebu on Saturdays; and three flights for Manila and one for Cebu on Sunday. Philippine Airlines Express, meanwhile, has two daily departures for Manila, Diamaoden said.

Meanwhile, Assistant Secretary Gaspar Ramon Aw Villegas, Director for Communications of the Office of the President, had expressed support to the continuing efforts to improve and upgrade the amenities at the Dumaguete-Sibulan airport.

Villegas recently met with Diamaoden and former airport manager Veronica Sayson Chuang for an ocular inspection at the Dumaguete-Sibulan airport. The Palace official said the airport recently acquired two brand new Oshkosh Striker fire trucks, funded during the tenure of Chuang. (FREEMAN)