BY GEROME DALIPE IV
ILOILO City – The Iloilo Airport’s limited capacity and outdated facilities hinder the growth of tourism and economic activities in the city and province of Iloilo, according to the Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Iloilo, Inc. (FCCCI).
It asked the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to speed up the repair or privatization of the Iloilo Airport preferably through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) process.
“The current state of the Iloilo International Airport significantly impacts Iloilo City and the Province’s thrust to promote itself as a premier tourism destination and UNESCO Gastronomy City,” stated Engr. Terence Uygongco, FCCCI president, in a letter to Secretary Jaime Bautista.
The businessmen believe that a modernized and expanded airport “will be a catalyst for economic growth and further solidify Iloilo’s position as a leading tourist destination.”
Mayor Jerry Treñas of Iloilo City earlier made a similar call. He received complaints from passengers who endured humid conditions while queuing at the check-in and pre-departure areas.
The passengers also told the mayor that the escalators were not working.
“I am calling on CAAP (Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines) to explain to me what happened to the funds,” the mayor said, referring to the P190 million that Sen. Grace Po allocated to the agency for the repair of the airport’s facilities last year.
Treñas, chairman of the Infrastructure Development Committee of the Regional Development Council (RDC) in Western Visayas, has long been pushing for the redevelopment or privatization of the Iloilo Airport to improve its facilities and services to accommodate the growing number of passengers and enhance the overall travel experience.
The P190 million is intended for the expansion of the Passenger Terminal Building (PTB) amounting to P45 million; rehabilitation of the Flight Information Display System (FIDS) worth P30 million; purchase of two unit chillers with 600-watt Cooling Capacity with an estimated cost of P29.5 million; and rehabilitation of Private Automatic Branch Exchange (PABX) System worth P20.5 million.
Three giant conglomerates have signified their interest to undertake the project through the Public-Private Partnership (PPA).
As of March 22, 2024, the PPP Center website showed the unsolicited proposal of Prime Asset Ventures Inc. Consortium is “under initial evaluation by implementing agency,” while there is no available data yet for Aboitiz InfraCapital, Inc. and Megaworld.
Uygongco said a transparent PPP awarding process is crucial for the successful expansion and modernization of the Iloilo airport.
“We urge the DOTr to provide a clear and updated timeline for the PPP awarding process, including details on the current status and any potential delays,” said Uygongco.
The FCCCI advocates for increased private sector involvement in ensuring transparency throughout the PPP process, he said.
“Collaborative efforts between the government and private stakeholders will foster trust and confidence in the project’s execution,” said Uygongco./PN
