Legislature’s help sought on funding for airport projects

The Commonwealth Ports Authority is seeking the assistance of the House of Representatives in its efforts to obtain funding for several airport improvement projects in all three major islands of the Northern Marianas.

CPA is specifically asking the Legislature’s support in obtaining fresh funds to finance the much-needed improvement and rehabilitation of the Rota International Airport, which is currently unable to accommodate larger aircraft.

Ports Authority officials, led by Board Chair Roman S. Palacios and Executive Director Carlos H. Salas, said extension of the 6,000-foot Rota airport runway would require $5.4 million.

The Federal Aviation Administration, responding on requests from the CPA and Rota Mayor Benjamin Manglona, earlier said it does not have available money to finance all airport improvement projects in the CNMI.

At the same time, CPA said construction of a parallel taxiway at the Rota International Airport would entail additional $4 million, which places overall improvement project cost to about $10 million.

CPA has been forced to seek the Legislature’s help following clamor from the Office of the Rota Mayor on the needed improvements at the island’s air transport facility in order to allow the growth of its ecotourism bid.

The ports authority is also planning to build a new terminal building in Rota to accommodate wide-body aircraft and passengers. CPA is hoping to extend the island’s airport runway by 2,600 feet.

Initially, CPA will work on the $3-million resurfacing of the airport runway. Funding for this project has already been identified through combined efforts of island leaders and CPA.

At least $2 million from the Rota Capital Improvement Project funds have been made available for the improvement of the airport’s runway.

Rota, with its pristine beaches and serene natural landscape, is being eyed to be the eco-tourism destination in the Northern Marianas to complement the images of Saipan as shopping hub and Tinian as casino gaming paradise.

The island’s mayor is concerned that bright prospects for the island’s economic program will not take off unless Rota’s air transportation woes, including absence of sufficient infrastructure, are addressed.

Mr. Manglona has lamented that continuous delay in improvement of the Rota International Airport would be counterproductive in the local government’s serious efforts to advance the island’s economic potentials.

Expansion of the Rota airport runway to accommodate bigger aircraft direct from Asian countries has been in the planning stage for ages. The project had to take the back seat in favor of Tinian due to the absence of solid plans to bring in direct international flights.

Aviation officials have decided to carry out the expansion of the West Tinian International Airport first because of the existence of the casino gaming industry in the island which requires international flights direct from Asian countries.