Tuesday, November 27, 2007 Silay airport will open January not December
BACOLOD lone district Representative Monico Puentevella said Monday that the New Bacolod-Silay Airport in Bagtic, Silay would officially open by January 17, 2008 instead of next month.
But Puentevella said all flight tests had already been completed.
The Air Transportation Office (ATO) has a policy requiring 57 days within which to inform all aviation authorities, both domestic and international, that a new airport will open, including international publication of all the data of the new airport, its location, and coordinates.
The congressman also said the McKinley access road would be finished just before the opening of the new airport.
The new airport of international standards was designed for domestic flights but it is up to ATO and the Civil Aeronautics Board if it could be used for international flights.
Only 500 meters are needed to extend the existing 2 kilometer-runway to make it an international airport.
The new airport can accommodate Airbus 330 planes with more than 300 passengers on board.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is expected to be the guest of honor during the opening of the new airport.
Earlier, Arroyo approved the proposed construction of an access road going to the new airport that will pass through La Herencia and Marapara areas in Barangay Bata, Bacolod City.
Puentevella said President Arroyo has already directed the National Economic Development Authority (Neda) to lead the construction of a two-lane access road, which will start early next year and will be financed by Korean Foreign Fund (KFF).
If materialized, taking this access road will only take 30 minutes from Bacolod to the new airport in Silay. (JSG)
