Saturday, August 25, 2007 ‘More airports, the better’ By Ma. Ester Espina
VICE Governor Isidro Zayco believes that the more airports, the better for the Province.
Airports serve as gateway for trade and commerce, thus Kabankalan City will have their airport too.
The airport project will have an impact to the eighty nine families who currently reside within the 100 hectare property, the site for the new airport in Sitio Cabangahan, Barangay Hilamonan, Kabankalan City.
Mayor Pedro Zayco said those families will be relocated to give way to the construction and operation of the airport.
The Zayco brothers were one in this airport project as they believe that it will spur the development in the southern part of the Province, which has been
identified as an agri-tourism cluster.
An increase in economic activity will be seen as there will be an immediate processing or handling of goods from Kabankalan and its neighboring LGUs to other parts of the region and the country as well.
Zayco said the city will provide the families an 80 sq. m. lot property each with a corresponding financial assistance.
The city has also allocated P22 million for land acquisition pegged at P22,000 per hectare.
Land Bank of the Philippines used the voluntary offer to sell (VOS) rates as basis for the cost of the property for the airport.
The target year for the completion of the airport is 2010.
They believed that the airport will be crucial in providing market access and better delivery of social services as well as promoting the booming tourism
industry in Southern Negros.
The City of Kabankalan has appropriated P25 million as initial funds for the airport construction which has already started.
The Provincial Government also gave a counter part fund of P30 million.
Zayco they have started the clearing and filling of the airport site using local funds.
They started planning several years ago.
In 2001, a team from Air Transportation Office inspected the sites for the proposed airport.
But the area in Sitio Cabangahan was identified as the ideal site.
The airport is situated in a hilly portion, which is 35 meters above sea level, based on Namria topographic map approximately four kilometers northeast of Kabankalan.
Generally, the terrain is relatively flat and safe.
In 2005, the city officials led by Mayor Zayco and Gov. Joseph Marañon decided to push through the airport project.
This is part of the transport development of the province with Kabankalan as the center of economic activity in the South.
Negros Occidental boosts of diverse ecologically rich environment that combines sugary beaches, crystal clear waters, and lush hilly landscapes that is guarantee to mesmerize visitors into tranquil harmony with its simplistic beauty thus making it a traveler’s haven.
