ILOILO – Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. is urging for prompt measures to address problems at the Iloilo Airport, in response to calls for a leadership change in the facility.
The Infrastructure Development Committee of the Regional Development Council (RDC) has requested the Office of the President and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to replace the current leadership of the airport in Cabatuan town.
Defensor said he respect the IDC’s call.
Iloilo City’s Mayor Jerry Treñas, co-chair of the IDC, highlighted issues such as malfunctioning escalators, inadequate air-conditioning, and poorly maintained restrooms, impacting the airport’s international standards. He emphasized the need for immediate repairs and improvements.
Defensor, too, acknowledged the delays in resolving problems at the airport.
“The key is to expedite the process,” Defensor he stressed, underlining the urgency of improvements.
The IDC has criticized the current management of the airport, led by Engineer Eusebio Monserate Jr., the acting area manager of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Area 6, and Manuela Luisa Palma, the airport manager.
In Resolution No. 05, series of 2023, the IDC noted a “leadership crisis” at the Iloilo Airport, necessitating a responsive and active management to tackle ongoing issues.
“The issue extends beyond mere amenities or comfort; it’s a matter of our city’s image and operational efficiency. Previously, passengers had ample seating during flights; now, increased traffic has led to a shortage of seats,” said Treñas.
Defensor, on behalf of the provincial government, committed to maintaining a positive working relationship with the airport’s management.
“We will continue our collaboration with the airport’s management team, whoever they may be,” he said.
Defensor is also pushing for the hastening of the implementation of the Iloilo Airport’s expansion plans, emphasizing the need due to increased passenger traffic and the rapid development in Iloilo City and province.
The Iloilo Airport opened its doors to commercial traffic on June 14, 2007, after a decade of planning and construction, replacing Mandurriao Airport in Mandurriao, Iloilo City which had been in service for over 70 years.
In 2022, it was ranked the fifth-busiest airport in the Philippines.
The Iloilo Airport is the first airport in both Western Visayas and the island of Panay to be built to international standards, and it is also considered to be the primary gateway into the region.
The airport sits on a 188-hectare site spread across barangays Tabucan, Tiring, Gaub, Duyan-Duyan and Manguna in Cabatuan.
Its complex consists of a single runway, various administrative and maintenance buildings, waste-sorting and water-treatment facilities, a power-generating station, a cargo terminal, and a main passenger terminal
Its location on the Tomas Confesor Highway, a major highway transversing the island, makes the airport accessible from all parts of Iloilo and Panay by road, while its proximity to the currently defunct Panay Railways network could potentially link the airport to the rest of Panay by rail./PN
