PINUNO party-list’s Rep. Howard Guintu is pushing for the rehabilitation of Roxas Airport and Port of Culasi in Roxas City, Capiz.
During a recent hearing on the 2025 budget of the Department of Transportation, Guintu pointed out deficiencies at the Roxas Airport and the need for a passenger tube so that travelers would no longer have to walk on the tarmac to the aircraft.
“Kapansin-pansin na ang ating paliparan ay nangangailangan ng rehabilitasyon at improvement ng mga pasilidad na ginagamit ng mga pasahero. Makikita natin na malayo ang kapasidad at quality ng ating paliparan kapag ikumpara sa Iloilo International Airport,” Capiznon solon said.
He added: “Maliit ang kapasidad ng paliparan, luma na ang mga pasilidad, at konti lang ang banyo na magagamit ng mga pasahero. Bukod pa rito, mahirap kapag umuulan, lalo na para sa ating mga persons with disabilities, dahil kailangan pang maglakad sa tarmac paakyat o kaya palabas ng eroplano.”
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines assured the party-list representative that Roxas Airport will get funding for its upgrade next year.
Also, Guintu is looking to rehabilitate the Culasi port, saying that its development is expected to spur economy and tourism in Roxas.
“With this, we can really improve our tourism. And, not just tourism but yung ating economic activity, trade, pag-aangkat at pagta-travel ng ating produkto. It’s greatly affected by the improvement of our facilities,” according to him.
The Philippine Ports Authority, for its part, said funds have been allocated for rehabilitating the Culasi port and expanding its passenger terminal building, with the bidding process set to commence by the end of the year.
“Nakakagalak pong marinig na meron na kayong budget allocation for the improvement of the facility and passenger terminal… Feel po kasi namin dito sa Capiz ay parang nakalimutan at napag-iwanan talaga yung aming airport at seaport. And sana po matugunan natin. Malaking tulong po ito para sa aming mga mamamayan at sa pag-boost ng aming ekonomiya at turismo,” said Guintu./PN
