ILOILO City – Having an improved gateway will boost this southern city’s position as a top tourist destination in Western Visayas, according to Mayor Jerry P. Treñas.
The Regional Development Council’s Infrastructure Development Committee (RDC-IDC) chaired Treñas passed a resolution urging the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) to expedite the review of unsolicited proposals for the expansion and upgrading of the Iloilo Airport in Cabatuan, Iloilo.
“As the undisputed No. 2 top tourist destination in the region, we will continue to enhance Iloilo City so we can attract more visitors,” said Treñas.
The region’s No. 1 tourist destination is Boracay Island.
“Hopefully once ma-improve aton airport kon may ara man da PPP (Public-Private Partnership) nga matabo, we will have direct flights to Korea or ibalik ang Hong Kong and Singapore direct flights,” said Treñas.
Iloilo Airport experienced a significant surge in passenger traffic in 2022, reaching a substantial volume of 3.4 million and a cargo movement of 4.2 million.
With the potential resumption of international flights and the relaxation of travel restrictions, further growth in passenger traffic is expected, requiring airport expansion and upgrading, the IDC pointed out.
Treñas has been supportive of the plan to privatize the Iloilo Airport.
“Whoever will get it, you know, ang aton da interest para sa kaayuhan sang aton mga pumoluyo nga naga-usar,” he said.
According to the PPP Center, two interested investors submitted unsolicited proposals (USP) to the DOTr for the Iloilo Airport expansion.
One of the investors, Prime Asset Venture, Inc., submitted a USP valued at P6.89 billion.
DOTr and CAAP likewise received a USP from Aboitiz InfraCapital, Inc. (AIC) for the upgrade, expansion, operation, and maintenance of the Iloilo Airport costing P9.95 billion.
The proposed expansion of the Iloilo Airport centers on the upgrading of the passenger terminal building (PTB), construction of an apron adjacent to the PTB, installation of the required equipment for passenger services, and modernization of appurtenant facilities.
“In expediting the evaluation process of both USPs and promptly engaging in negotiations with the proponents, it is anticipated that favorable outcomes will be achieved, facilitating the successful financing and subsequent implementation of the project,” read part of the RDC-IDC resolution.
It emphasized that the airport expansion is vital in the local and international job creation, trade and tourism of Western Visayas, which posted the highest economic growth rate among regions in 2022 at 9.3 percent, exceeding the national average of 7.2 percent.
Treñas said the city government will also embark on a more aggressive promotion of Iloilo to boost tourist arrivals.
In the pipeline are more sisterhood agreements with cities like Suha and Dobong-gu in South Korea where the city mayor visited as one of the representatives of the Philippines in the CityNet meeting last week.
“We are encouraging more sister-city agreements because these foster more people exchanges,” the city mayor said.
Before he left for South Korea, Treñas signed a sisterhood agreement with Quanzhou City, China.
Aside from being a top tourism destination, Iloilo City is also positioning itself to be the Top 5 Most Livable Highly Urbanized Cities in the Philippines by 2028.
Relentless efforts are being done by the Treñas administration to further level up the city such as the restoration of public plazas and public markets, provision of open spaces for leisure and recreation, massive beautification and re-greening initiatives, improvement of bike lanes, among other programs and projects.
Treñas said what makes the metropolis further attractive to visitors is also its food, places of interest such as old houses, ancient churches and heritage buildings, and museums, among others.
Iloilo City is the official candidate of the Philippines in the prestigious UNESCO Creative City for Gastronomy.
“There are so many things to do, so many places to go once you are here,” Treñas said, adding that the City Mayor’s Office has six Department of Tourism-accredited tour guides and tour buses./PN
