The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines proposes a P600 million budget for the completion of Kabankalan Airport in Negros Occidental, 6th District Rep. Mercedes Alvarez said Saturday.
Alvarez said the proposed P600 million will cover the airport apron, terminal and emergency buildings.
The proposed budget will be presented to incoming Department of Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, a former president of the Philippine Airlines, for inclusion in the 2023 national budget, she added.
CAAP representatives inspected the site for the Kabankalan airport last week.
“We’re hoping (for an appropriation) in this coming budget season, when we conduct a budget hearing, even not the whole thing, but at least phase by phase,” Alvarez said.
She said she will see to it that an amount will be allocated for the airport project in the 2023 budget deliberations.
If completed, the facility in Kabankalan will be the second airport in Negros Occidental, aside from an airstrip in Sipalay City, and third airport in Negros Island, including the Dumaguete City Airport in Negros Oriental.
The 100-hectare site that houses the airport is located in Barangay Hilamonan, Kabankalan City. The construction of the facility started in 2007./GB
