FAA pledges funding for Rota airport improvement

Efforts by the local government of Rota to secure funding for the much needed rehabilitation of the island’s air transport facility is beginning to bear good fruits after the Federal Aviation Administration has pledged funding for the project.

FAA-Western Pacific Airports District acting manager Daniel S. Matsumoto said the agency anticipates funding for the project under its Fiscal Year 2000 allocation which begins October 1, 2000.

In a letter to Commonwealth Ports Authority Executive Director Carlos H. Salas, Mr. Matsumoto said the project was originally designed to be financed through an appropriation from the CNMI government, but that FAA has decided Airport Improvement Project funds may now be used to undertake the repair.

The project involves grooving and marking of the Rota International Airport runway.

However, Mr. Matsumoto explained FAA needs to approve the final plans and specifications for the runway grooving and marking project before CPA could solicit public bids from interested companies.

He urged CPA to submit final documents to the FAA for review and approval. The documents should include federal contract clauses, Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program, Buy American Act, United States wage rate among others.

“We anticipate issuing a grant offer by late October 2000. The construction contract should not be executed until AIP funds have been obligated by execution of the grant agreement,” he added.

Rota Mayor Benjamin Manglona earlier asked immediate assistance from the FAA for the improvement and rehabilitation of the island’s international airport, stressing the need to improve and upgrade runway and terminal of the air transport facility.

Mr. Manglona emphasized that prospects are bright for the island’s economic program which is not expected to take off unless Rota’s air transportation woes, including absence of sufficient infrastructure, are addressed.

He added a jet service to and from the island would only become possible if and when airport runway and terminal facilities are rehabilitated and improved, thereby, securing the safety of incoming and outgoing passengers.

Mr. Manglona underscored 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.

The mayor has been persistently working at seeking assurance from the CPA, FAA and other federal agencies on its commitment to undertake improvement of the island’s international air transport facility, amid reports on plans to expand both Saipan and Tinian airports.

The mayor pointed out that to enable Rota to foster growth in the visitor industry, its air transport facility should be able to accommodate larger, wider bodied aircraft normally used by foreign carriers in their international operations.

He added that the current condition of the island’s airport hampers Rota’s economic growth, explaining that Rota’s economic success depends on good and reliable air transportation, adding that improvement of the facility’s runway is pre-requisite for its economic development to stimulate Rota’s growth, especially tourism.