MORE ON CAWIT PORT & MARINDUQUE AIRPORT, etc.

CAWIT PORT
Cawit Port, located in the municipality of Boac is identified as a most vital linkage connecting Marinduque to the Strong Republic Nautical Highway (Western Seaboard). Port rehabilitation which is part of the Luzon Urban Beltway project, has been completed and the port is set to open within October 2008.

The said Port, however, remains vulnerable to big waves brought about by strong winds coming from the southwest and northeast directions. This necessitates the construction of a breakwater structure that ensures the Port’s continued operation any time of the year, and its accommodation to most of the water transport traffic on the island-province.

A study and a preliminary plan for a Breakwater Structure for conversion of Cawit Port into an all-weather port, drawn up by the Provincial Engineer’s Office but that involves a staggering cost. The provincial government, however, could not cease to dream about converting it into an all-weather port.

Meanwhile, going to Marinduque is a lot easier now, particularly for residents of Boac, Gasan and Buenavista.

PORT OF MACALELON TO PORT OF BUYABOD

Governor Carrion has also made representations with the Governor of Quezon, Raffy Nantes to prioritize the Port of Macalelon in Quezon (directly north of Marinduque), to link it with the Port of Buyabod in Sta. Cruz. Eventual travel between this two ports will only take 45 minutes...


MARINDUQUE AIRPORT.

It is and always has been known as "Marinduque Airport" not "Masiga Airport", which continues to be used now and then.

The Marinduque Airport in Masiga, Gasan, the only existing commercial airport in Marinduque has not been in operation for the last four (4) years. A proposed runway extension to allow jets to service the airport costing PHP 161-Million has received the endorsement of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and the Civil Aeronautics Administration and is awaiting implementation.

It is of paramount importance, however, that the airport is opened to domestic flights, particularly 70-seater aircrafts, to boost the tourism thrust of the provincial administration and in response to increased public clamour.

This necessitates the rehabilitation of a somewhat deteriorated portion of the existing runway (measuring 486 m. x 30 m), through asphalt overlaying.

Provincial Board Member, Allan Nepomuceno, a former commercial pilot, has thoroughly inspected the airport condition and is instrumental in getting the nod of ZESTAIR to include the airport in their destinations with their 50-seater planes for now.

It should be stressed that domestic flight operations scheduled for next month or early December will not be hampered by the eventual implementation of the proposed runway extension earlier mentioned.

By the way, the ZESTAIR one-way airfare is less than P. 500.00! Asian Spirit is the former owners of said new airline company.