NEGROS Oriental Governor Roel Degamo objected to the proposed construction of the Dumaguete-Bacong Airport after not being consulted for the project.
During the Central Visayas Regional Development Council Full Council Meeting Tuesday, December 6, 2022, in Cebu City, Degamo said he was not present during the deliberation for the project.
But Bacong Mayor Lenin Alviola said the project has already been inspected by the National Economic Development Authority, the Department of Transportation, and the Office of the President.
Alviola added that the objection of Degamo is already "moot and academic" since the project is already at the Office of the President.
"May I put this on the record that the position of the governor is already moot and academic because the project is already at the Office of the President," said Alviola.
But Degamo insisted that the Provincial Government was not given the time to present its own feasibility study for the construction of a new airport for Negros Oriental.
"Bacong belongs to the province of Negros Oriental and I am the governor. It is my duty to impose what is best for my province. When I said I am strongly opposing this project, that is in so far as I am the governor now," said Degamo.
The Municipality of Bacong is located around 10 kilometers south of Dumaguete City, the province's capital.
In 2021, Degamo said the construction of an airport in Bacong is not feasible and proposed Tanjay City, located north of Dumaguete, to be the location instead. (IRT)