BACOLOD City – The Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI) has identified a pressing need for enhanced transportation infrastructure on the southern side of Negros Island to accelerate regional economic growth.
Frank Carbon, chief executive officer of MBCCI, highlighted the lack of adequate seaport facilities that connect the area to other regions as a significant hindrance.
The group proposes the development of a domestic airport in southern Negros to facilitate the swift movement of people and goods, which it believes will spur economic activity and generate employment opportunities.
According to Carbon, Kabankalan City is ideally positioned to serve as a new economic hub for the southern part of the island.
“Kabankalan City sits at the crossroads to Mabinay in the east and Ilog to the west, making it a prime location for economic expansion,” explained Carbon.
The city is also directly linked to Bayawan and Ayungon in Negros Oriental and to the rapidly developing Himamaylan City in the north.
Drawing parallels with Bantayan Island in Cebu, where travel time was drastically reduced following new air service introductions, MBCCI stressed the potential for similar advancements in Negros. The King Aces Travel and Tours Service Inc. (Kattsi) will begin operating flights that will cut travel time to Bantayan Island from four hours to just 30 minutes, starting August 28.
This development has prompted MBCCI to urge local leaders to advocate for similar projects. “With the 2025 General Appropriations Act soon to be drafted, it’s crucial that our representatives push the Department of Transportation to allocate funds for the construction of Kabankalan Airport,” Carbon said./PN