Treñas to attend new airport's inauguration
City mayor Jerry Treñas yesterday denied reports that he is not invited for today's inauguration of the new Iloilo airport of international standard in Sta. Barbara-Cabatuan. He said, he will be around to join President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for the inauguration.
The reports on Trenas's non-invitation to the inauguration spread at the city hall since last week until Tuesday morning. Nobody wanted to confirm the report as the mayor is still out of the country for a much needed short vacation with his family.
In a text message, Treñas said his office received the invitation Tuesday. It is presumed that it arrived late in the day. He added that he will come and join the President as he is already in Iloilo City at the time of the President's arrival.
The President on board a special flight of the Philippine Airlines is expected to arrive at the new airport around 10 a.m. today. It will be the first aircraft to land at the new airport. Initial list of the President's party includes Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Ryuichiro Yamazaki, Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza, Iloilo's local officials and several airport concessionaires.
After the inauguration, the President will proceed to Guimaras for the launching of Petron projects. She will go back to Iloilo after the Guimaras trip.
The P6.2-billion airport sits on a 188-hectare land situated between the towns of Sta. Barbara and Cabatuan. It was funded by the Japan Bank of International Cooperation (JBIC) to the tune of Php 5.259 billion and Php 928 million as counterpart fund of the Philippine government. It was included in the Special Yen Loan Package (SYLP) Loan Agreement signed by the Philippines and the JBIC on August 31, 2000.
The new airport has a runway 2.5 kilometers long and 45 meters wide, 12,000-square meter passenger terminal and a cargo terminal measured at 1,281 square meters. Its 48,000-square meter apron could accommodate six commercial planes. The following day, June 14, the commercial operation of all airline companies will start at the new airport.