New Gensan Airport facade patterned after Yellowfin Tuna

[dropcap]Y[/dropcap]es, you read it right.

The facade of the General Santos City International Airport which will be undergoing a major rehab to the tune of almost a Billion Pesos (P950 Million) will be pattered after that of the fins of a Yellow Fin tuna.  This is according to the Schematic Design Report presented by the Office of the Director of the Project Development Center.   Tuna is a prime commodity of the city (it houses 6 of the country’s 8 tuna canneries and most of its processing plants) and adapting the tuna’s fins to the airport’s frontage design is not only appropriate but an awesome come-on for visitors.

Here’s what a yellow fin tuna looks like and how the layout of the General Santos City International Airport Passenger Terminal Building (PTB) will look like too…

This is very noteworthy because it will also showcase the city as being “The Tuna Capital of the Philippines“.

The designer of the expanded airport is Architect Yuri Andro Cabangbang of the Office of the Director, Project Development Service.  It is still a work in progress and could be subject to change pending comments and suggestions from key stakeholders from the city.  The architect recently presented the design to the Gensan City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. and to the City Mayor Ronnel C. Rivera and Task Force Gensan Airport.

The rehab of the General Santos International Airport will include the repair, renovation, expansion of the existing facility and the construction of new features, to include the Pre-Departure Area, the Baggage Build-up, the Escalator Lounge, the Main Hall, the Public Concourse, the Boarding Bridges, the Greeter’s Lounge, the Apron and Avionic systems used for aircraft.

Passenger volume currently at the General Santos Internationally Airport is expected to reach 1.2 million by 2016.  With the expansion, it coud grow to 4.4 million passengers in 30 years.

For more information, check out Gensan Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Board of Director and blogger Orman Manansala’s write-up about it.  Thanks Orman for the heads up.

So now that you’ve seen the proposed design, what do you think?  What else does the Gen. Santos City International Airport need?  Your comments and suggestions are welcome below…