BACOLOD City – The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has allocated about P250 million for the improvement of the Bacolod-Silay Airport in Silay City, Negros Occidental.
The approved budget for the Bacolod-Silay Airport Development Project includes P200 million for improving and expanding the passenger terminal building to increase the check-in and pre-departure areas to accommodate the growing passenger demand.The remaining P5 million will be used to widen the access road for the fire station building.
CAAP director general Raul Del Rosario said the aforementioned funding was approved amid the ongoing implementation of the P45-million rehabilitation of the passenger terminal building to address several outdated and deteriorated building materials and components, which is expected to be completed in December this year.
In addition, Del Rosario said the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) has committed to include in their funding the asphalt overlay of the existing runway at the airport to ensure safe aircraft operations.
Last February, Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez sent a letter to Del Rosario, requesting a fund of P200 million for the improvement and renovation of the said airport.
“I thank CAAP for approving our request and allocating P205 million for the Bacolod-Silay Airport upgrade,” the mayor said over the weekend.
The Bacolod-Silay Airport airport was inaugurated on July 13, 2007 ahead of its formal opening as an airport of international standards on January 18, 2008 during the administration of then President Gloria Arroyo./PN
