Editorial
Gateway to progress
Starting tomorrow airline passengers to and from Iloilo would already start using the P6.187 billion new Iloilo Airport of international standards located within the municipalities of Sta. Barbara and Cabatuan.
The state-of-the-art airport which was realized through the initiative and effort of Ilonggo Senator Franklin Drilon will be inaugurated today by no less than Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Unfortunately, reports say that Drilon will not be able to attend the inauguration due to other prior appointments.
Actually, the new airport was completed amid controversies brought by accusations of alleged irregularities and anomalies relative to its implementation. Thanks to the Japanese contractors for sticking it out with the project despite the hullabaloos created by the Filipinos.
Unfortunately, it seemed that nothing concrete was reached despite all the ruckus brought by the House of Representatives' inquiry on the airport project. The only thing sure was that the government spent people's money in the conduct of the hearings both here in Iloilo and in Manila.
Well, after all that has happened we now have the new Iloilo Airport which we can be proud of. Thus, we bid goodbye to our Jurassic airport in Mandurriao district and have a taste of a modern airport, which according to officials is far better than that of Cebu and Davao cities.
Definitely, the new airport would bring about economic development not only to the province of Iloilo but the entire Western Visayas as well.
It will provide a new gateway to the Visayas for millions of foreign tourists and investors and offer new opportunities for businesses, employment and economic growth to the region.