A new facility will stand at the Mactan-Benito Ebuen Air Base in this island city to house the Philippine Air Force’s (PAF) fixed wing and rotary air mobility assets.

During the groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday, Maj. Gen. Joannis Leonardi Dimaano, chief of the Air Mobility Command, said the hangar, which is worth PHP188 million, would serve as a “hub for maintenance and shelter of our air assets.”

He cited Lapu-Lapu City Lone District Congresswoman Cynthia King-Chan for helping the funding allocation to be included in the 2023 national budget.

“This hangar will serve as a maintenance bay for aircraft to ensure their engines’ great condition and in the improvement of the air force operations,” Mayor Junard Chan said in his speech.

The mayor said the hangar would be built under the 2023 General Appropriations Act and would be implemented under the Tikas ng Imprastraktura para sa Kapayapaan at Seguridad (TIKAS) program between the Department of National Defense and the Department of Public Works and Highways.

The construction of phase 1 will cover a 4,565 square meter PAF rotary hangar consisting of a main park area for helicopters, a pilot lounge, three office rooms, a warehouse, four comfort rooms, and an electric room complete with electrical and plumbing fixtures.

The project is expected to finish in July 2024.

“More importantly, such will ultimately contribute to our nation’s social and economic development as we are reassured of national peace and security,” King-Chan said. (PNA)