AIRPORT RUNWAY EXPANSION Rota seeks help of Japanese firm

Rota Mayor Benjamin Manglona has asked a Tokyo-based financing company for assistance in its plan to construct the $10 million runway extension project in the island municipality.

In a letter to Yasusoshi Nakagima, president of Taisho Sogyo Co. Ltd., Manglona said local officials have already earmarked the amount for the runway development but the money has yet to be drawn down since there is a need to match it with local funds.

Unfortunately, the decline in the island’s tourism economy has pulled down revenue collections, unabling the government to meet the matching requirement. Since the runway development is Rota’s priority, Manglona said the Japanese company’s design, build and finance concept would extremely help the local government in pursuing its goal.

Rota’s Legislative Delegation has set aside some $10 million of its Capital Improvement Project fund for the extension of the Rota International Airport runway.

Manglona has even expressed hope that either the Commonwealth Ports Authority or the Federal Aviation Administration help match the amount to complete the runway extension project and carry out other improvements in the airport facilities.

Since the island’s economy is the number one priority of Rota’s political leaders, they urged CPA to proceed without unnecessary delays the planning on the project.

With the planned improvements of Saipan and Tinian airports, Manglona has expressed concern that the ports authority has neglected the island in planning for its future.

While he commends CPA for planning ahead for Saipan and Tinian’s future, Manglona said he hopes the ports authority will do the same for the island municipality.

The runway improvement, Manglona noted, is an important component of the island’s goal to stimulate Rota’s growth which depends primarily on the tourism industry.

The planned expansion of the runways in Tinian and Saipan will leave out Rota as the only airport in the CNMI which cannot accommodate larger aircraft.

Such situation will deprive Rota from receiving international flights between major airports like Guam and Saipan, thus, hampering its economic development, Manglona said.

However, CPA assured Rota’s political leaders that the plan for the island’s airport is included in the master plan of the ports authority.

Recently, CPA and the Municipality of Rota have signed a Memorandum of Agreement in connection with the repair of Rota International Airport runway.

Based on the MOA, the Rota Municipality will reimburse the ports authority of the cost of the A&E Design work amounting to $68,000 using Capital Improvement funds earmarked for the project. (LFR)