Investor starts clearing old airport site
Occupants of the 54-hectare old Mandurriao airport, reportedly, had been given 30 days by Megaworld Corporation to vacate the area. As such, workers have started to demolish portions of the old airport's terminal building.
City Mayor Jerry Treñas, however, did not confirm the report when asked by City Hall beat reporters yesterday.
As to date, the city has yet to release the exact number of occupants to be relocated for the airport site's buyer to develop the area. Presently, portion of the property is occupied by the Philippine Air Force (PAF) and the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).
Several workers have been spotted cleaning the property of the tall grasses specifically along the airport's runway in Tabucan, Mandurriao.
A building near the old airport's departure area is also being demolished. The concrete fence used to secure the runway was demolished and runway lights were already removed after the transfer was made to the Iloilo International Airport of International Standard in Sta. Barbara.
In his visit to Iloilo City, Megaworld Corporation's Executive and Senior Vice President Kingson U. Sian said the relocation of the occupants would be a joint undertaking between the corporation and the local government unit.
Sian projected the development at the old airport to start early next year. The development will take place as soon as the development master plan with the concept of "live-work-play-learn community is done.
Megaworld hired the topnotch services of architectural firm Palafox Associates in conceptualizing the development master plan for the old airport property. The future business park will have a Business Processing Outsourcing, residential, hotel, convention center, commercial and retail outlets, skills training center and recreation facilities. This is the first major investment of Megaworld outside Manila.