PGMA to inaugurate Bacolod-Silay Airport
BACOLOD CITY -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will inaugurate today the new Bacolod-Silay airport located in Barangay Bagtic, Silay City, Negros Occidental.
The new airport is 20 kilometers north of Bacolod City.
However, the new airport will have to wait for the completion of its runway's additional 500 meters to be able to start actual operations.
Meanwhile, the Bacolod City government and local businessmen wanted the retention of the Bacolod airport even if the new Bacolod-Silay airport of international standards will start operating in a few months.
Mayor Evelio Leonardia said it is possible that the old airport located four kilometers south from the heart of Bacolod, will be retained even if the new one in Silay City starts operating.
Leonardia said in Palawan there are three airports.
"The old Bacolod airport serves the entire Bacolod. It also serves 60 percent of plane passengers which come from southern Negros Occidental," he said.
The mayor said if none of the big airlines will continue to operate at the old airport, "perhaps private or smaller planes can still use it."
"If the national government will consider maintaining the Bacolod airport and would require participation of the Bacolod city government, I will not deny because it is the city and those from the south that will benefit," Leonardia said.
Although he said the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod has approved the conversion of the old airport into a special economic zone, Leonardia said local businessmen also support the move to retain it.
(PNA)