New Bacolod-Silay Airport declared “technically-ready” to operate

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bacolod airport philippines Silay City, Negros OccidentalÂ – No less than President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo announced during her opening statement in the Central Visayas Infra Conference that the New Bacolod-Silay Airport is “technically-ready” to operate anytime.

The President explained as to why the P4.3 billion airport is named as such stating that it it got the Silay name since it is located in Silay and Bacolod since in all the international codes, Bacolod is used.

Despite the absence 500 meter extension runway, the 2,000 meter runway of the new airport is good based on the forecasted traffic until 2020 according to project manager of the New Bacolod-Silay Airport Edgardo Mangalili of the Department of Transportation and Communication.

Presidential Adviser for Western Visayas Rafael Coscolluela in a radio interview prior to the July 13 Presidential visit explained that the delay in the construction of the 4.7 kilometer stretch of the McKinley road from Silay City proper leading to the New Bacolod-Silay was brought by complications in the acquisition of portion of lands for widening from the landowners. The palace official further explained that the development of the roads leading to the airport is the responsibility of the local government units. But the new airport is infinitely better and safer Coscolluela added.

Mangalili also said that in the practice of building new airports, the construction of the access road is made last before the actual operation of the new airport starts. “This is to prevent the heavy equipment and big trucks from damaging the concrete road leading to the airport,” Mangalili added.

“As we can see the new Bacolod Airport is also finished, but we will await the completion of the access road in November before opening it. I assure Congressman Monico Puentevella that the airport fees will stay the same,” President Arroyo said.

President Arroyo also lauded Mayor Pedro Zayco of Kabankalan City and the provincial government which will be starting the civil works on its airport (in Kabankalan) in October to access the Mediterranean ambience of the Sipalay beaches. *(PIA/EAD)