Tuesday, August 28, 2007 Puentevella: Only 2 people can resolve airport issue By Gil Alfredo B. Severino
BACOLOD Representative Monico Puentevella will not hesitate to sign the petition to retain the old Singcang airport but he asked, “Is there a need for my signature?”
While he admitted he would benefit from keeping the airport where it is now located, instead of moving it farther to what will be called the new Bacolod-Silay airport, Puentevella said only two people would finally decide on the fate of the airport.
These would be President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Philippine Airlines president Lucio Tan.
Puentevella said he travels to Manila every week and would like to have the airport remain where it is, closer to the city. But, he added, even if he signed the petition for the airport’s retention or even if a million people signed it, the decision still would rest on President Arroyo and tycoon Tan.
“The point is, the President has ruled that the bigger portion of the whole area of the old airport is privately owned. No matter how many millions of signatures we will gather, still, only two people will decide and they are President Arroyo and Lucio Tan,” Puentevella said.
The Retain Old Airport Movement (Roam), an advocacy group, has asked that the airport not be transferred to Silay. In a petition to Arroyo, the group said, “We would like to express our full support to you and the Silay International Airport. But. at the same time, we would like to appeal for your reconsideration with regard your decision to dispose of the Bacolod airport once the new airport at Barangay Bagtic, Silay City becomes operational.” The group said Silay is far from Bacolod city proper and would entail long travel for plane passengers.
