Gov’t to fast track R4.5-B Bacolod Airport

By 2007, Bacolod City will have a new airport located in Bagtic, Silay City.

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC) will fast track the construction of the R4.5 billion new Bacolod Airport.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo presided over the ceremonial groundbreaking recently together with DoTC Secretary Leandro Mendoza, the officials of the Japanese Embassy, and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC).

Mendoza said the construction of the new airport will lead to a marked improvement in the operational safety and the airport’s capability to handle passenger volume.

“The new airport is designed to handle one million passengers and 16,715 tons of cargos per year, and can accommodate aircraft as big as Airbus A330 for possible international operations,” he said.

He added, “it will cater to the increasing number of air passengers and cargo traffic in Negros Occidential, generate employment during the construction and actual operations, and boost the economic development of the Visayas region.”

He also said that the new airport will comply with the international air transportation safety standards and will be provided with state-of-the-air infrastructures.

Mendoza noted that the current Bacolod Airport has become obsolete and has limited expandability due to the existence of roads and rivers and urbanization around the airport.

He also thanked the people and the government of Silay City for providing a home for the new airport.

The DoTC, through a grant assistance from the Japanese government, conducted study in the late 1990s to determine the sustainability of the existing airport and the possible establishment of a new airport of international standard.

Mendoza said the study found the development of a new airport as the best option and recommended that it be constructed at the most suitable location in Bagtic, Silay City.

“As a result of the study, the DoTC pursued the development of a new airport complex and requested the government of Japan to extend the financial assistance under the Yen Loan Package of the JBIC,” Mendoza said.

On the other hand, Roberto Salazar, project manager, said the contractor, Kanika Itochu has mobilized the work since August this year. (PNA)