Wednesday, December 06, 2006 Mayor vows to open Sipalay airport next year By Erwin Ambo S. Delilan
SIPALAY City Mayor Oscar Montilla Jr. is determined to operate an airport in their city next year to compliment the promotion of their "ala Boracay" beaches among the city's other natural wonders.
"If we can't use the airstrip of Maricalum Mining Corp. (MMC) at Barangay San Jose, we might utilize the airstrip of Philex Gold Mining Corporation (PGMC) in
Barangay Nabulao," Montilla said.
He, however, said they are really after MMC's airstrip "because of its viable location which is only two kilometers away from the City proper."
PGMC's airstrip, on the other hand, is about 45 minutes away from Sipalay poblacion.
Montilla said their City has a pending expropriation case for MMC's airstrip before the Court of Appeals in Cebu City, asking the court to allow the use of the facility while MMC is not yet in operation.
"But Mr. Teodoro Bernardino remains firm in not allowing anyone, not even the City or the province, to use their airstrip," Montilla said.
Montilla said Sipalay and the Provincial Government are willing to rent through offsetting the tax liabilities of MMC.
"I am even contemplating to ask President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's help on this matter," he said.
But if all else fails, Montilla said they will have to use the PGMC airstrip for their airport and tourism investment purposes, he added.
"This is free of charge but what we will do there is simply to clean up, regrade, recompact the area and put structure there like a shedhouse for the passengers. After which, we can accommodate lighter passenger planes like those 20 to 30-seater units," Montilla said.
If this happens soon, Montilla said that Sipalay, dubbed as "Jewel of Sugarlandia" and "Hiyas ng Turismo" awardee, is ready to host foreign and local tourists who wanted to experience both nature and adventure, the mayor added.
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