• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Kabankalan City airport in Negros Occidental needs to extend its runway by 600 meters to accommodate an Airbus aircraft, as required by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, Mayor Benjie Miranda said yesterday.
He said that in a dialog with representatives of the Department of Transportation (DOTr), Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), and 6th District Rep. Mercedes Alvarez, they discussed that an amount of P850 million is still needed for the completion of the airport, which has an existing runway of 1,400 meters.
The development of the 104-hectare airport, located in Barangay Hilamonan, started in 2007.
The mayor said that to extend the runway, they have to relocate about 100 informal settler-families, who have already encroached the airport area.
The city government earmarks P10 million annually for airport development, on top of the P40 million allocated funds, which has yet to be used, he added.
Alvarez, who filed a bill for the establishment of the Kabankalan Airport, earlier said that she is lobbying for additional funds from the DOTr and CAAP for its completion.
The additional funds will cover expenses for the airport apron and terminal building, the lawmaker added.
Miranda also said that a one-hectare lot within Barangay Hilamonan was donated for the relocation site of affected settlers, who registered no opposition for their transfer, as long as they will get assistance.
He added that the city government also received letters of intent from two companies interested to establish flying schools within the Kabankalan City airport. | GB
