‘Completion of Kabankalan airport is a continuing work’

The City of Kabankalan continues to allocate funds each year for the completion of its airport project.

While acknowledging the previous city administrations that initiated in 2007 and continued to develop the site for the Kabankalan City Airport through the years, Mayor Benjie Miranda said the current administration also sustains the efforts for its completion with an annual budget of P10 million.

He said the city will be clearing part of the airport site of squatters, and the runway will be lengthened up to 2,000 meters from its current 1,400 meters to accomodate bigger aircrafts once it becomes operational.

Mayor Miranda told newsmen that in a recent meeting with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), the Department of Transportation, and Negros Occidental 6th District Congresswoman Mercedes Alvarez, it was revealed that P850 million more is needed to complete the 104-hectare airport in Brgy. Hilamonan.

The city also has a P40 million fund for the airport which is still unutilized, the mayor told newsmen.

Cong. Alvarez, author of the bill establishing the Kabankalan airport, earlier bared that she was lobbying for funds from DOTr and CAAP for the airport’s completion, specifically for the apron and terminal building.

The Kabankalan mayor also told newsmen Friday that a one-hectare lot in Hilamonan was donated for the relocation of those who expressed willingness to be transfered from the airport site. He also said the city government received letters from flying schools to establish branches within the airport.* (APT)