Friday, August 10, 2007 Group demands retention of old Bacolod airport By Erwin Ambo S. Delilan
A GROUP of concerned Bacolodnons urged President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to reconsider the closure of the Bacolod airport once the new airport in Silay becomes operational.
Babes Alvarez, Captain Charlie Hagad, journalists Modesto Sa-onoy, Primo Esleyer, Crispin Chua, Alfredo Barcelona, former Bacolod congressman John Orola, Jr., lawyer Alex Espino and many others who belong to the Bacolod Airport Retention Movement signed a letter-petition addressed to Arroyo.
"We strongly feel that our airport is a vital facility that should be preserved, maintained, and, in fact, eventually upgraded for the following reasons," they said.
The rest of the petition states as follows:
“The Bacolod airport can be used as a hub for the smaller airlines and air charter operators to operate from, thus strengthening the push of the province of Negros Occidental to become a major tourist destination and servicing other destinations in Central Philippines that cannot be served by the bigger aircraft of major commercial airlines.
The Bacolod airport can be used as a flight training site considering the country is fast losing its pool of experienced airline pilots to better paying jobs abroad, and foreign students are looking for a good aviation school. A general aviation industry for tourism and business can be established here.
The Bacolod airport can be an investment site for companies engaged in aircraft engine repair and maintenance as well as those engaged in the manufacture and or repair of aircraft instrumentation and other accessories.
The Bacolod airport can eventually be extended southwards by reclaiming its shallow foreshore, for a special economic zone.
In fact, Mayor Evelio R. Leonardia supports the retention of the Bacolod airport and has made public for the local government to defray the cost of maintaining the needed personnel, as well as investing in the project if necessary.
The Bacolod airport can be the alternate airport should any difficulty occur, that would prevent the use of the Silay airport.
We urge you, Madame President, to consider that progressive cities have more that one airport close to each other."
