Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Senate finance body passes P5B budget for new airports in west Visayas
* Calderon assures safety of Iloilo airport
THE Senate finance committee has approved a P5.5 billion infrastructure fund that will pave the way for the operation next year of two of the biggest air transport projects in Region 6, the New Iloilo International Airport and the Negros Occidental Airport.
The approval came despite the bombing last Sunday of the New Bacolod International Airport in Silay City last Sunday by elements of the communist New People's Army (NPA), who destroyed P30 million worth of equipment being used for its construction. It was set for completion in the second quarter of 2007.
"The bombing of the Negros airport is certainly a setback, but the move of the committee to provide funding for this airport sends the signal that we are determined to push through with the project that will bring the region economic progress," said Senator Franklin Drilon, chairman of the Senate finance committee.
During the committee hearing on the P17.6 billion budget of the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) for 2007, Drilon said the allocation for the new airport in Iloilo, amounting to P2.712 billion, and P2.788 billion for the Negros airport, were submitted for Senate approval.
Drilon called on the PNP to intensify security measures surrounding the Iloilo airport so as not to delay its opening in March 2007.
PNP Chief Oscar Calderon has assured that the Iloilo airport project will not suffer the same fate as the airport project in Silay City.
"I had a conversation with General Calderon and he gave me the assurance that the security measures will be upgraded in these two airports in order to prevent a similar attack," said Drilon.
Like the airport project in Silay City, the Iloilo airport is in its last phase of completion and will begin operation next year.
"The airport in Iloilo, for which P2.7 billion is being allocated in the budget of Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), with the loan proceeds of P1.5 billion, is about to be finished. The civil works and the electrical works are about to be finished on Dec. 31, 2006. Test flights are supposed to be made on the first quarter of next year, the turnover will be made on March 17, 2007," Drilon said.
Drilon inquired from Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza what security measures are in place in view of the attack.
"On the case of Iloilo, the security forces within the area are already taking the appropriate assessment. Like in the Silay City airport, they are going to install a security detachment in the Iloilo airport," Mendoza informed the committee.
Mendoza also told the committee that although he had instructed airport authorities to minimize the period of delay, the attack will cause one to two months delay on the construction of the Silay airport.
"Hopefully, we can secure the Iloilo airport better, so we won't suffer any delay," Drilon said.
Mendoza assured Drilon that all possible measures will be made to make sure that the Iloilo Airport project will be safe.
The 184-hectare new Iloilo airport will have a three storey passenger terminal, about 12,000 square meters in floor area, houses the baggage conveyor on the first floor, the check in area and the airline offices on the second floor, and the pre-departure area on the third, and the arrival area along the corridors that lead to the first floor. Air navigation systems, including a radar area is also in place.
Drilon said Iloilo has the fourth highest passenger traffic in the country and the new airport will further boost trade, investment, and tourism in the region.
The airport is expected to increase air passenger and cargo traffic in the province and boost economic development in Western Visayas, Drilon said. Located between the towns of Cabatuan and Sta. Barbara, 19 kilometers north of Iloilo City, the new Iloilo airport will be a domestic trunk-line airport that will replace the existing airport in Mandurriao.
"The rise of a first-rate airport in Western Visayas that is compliant with international standards is crucial to the development of the country. This will boost our air transportation services, making the Philippines more accessible to the rest of the world," said Drilon, a native of Iloilo. (CPB/Sunnex)
(October 11, 2006 issue)
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