PRIORITY. Division of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Vivencio Dizon (seated heart left) meets with Iloilo officers to replace them on the privatization of the Iloilo Worldwide Airport on Saturday. Dizon mentioned they’d prioritize the Iloilo Airport within the authorities’s privatization efforts. (Picture courtesy of Arnold Almacen/Metropolis Mayor’s Workplace)
ILOILO CITY — The Division of Transportation (DOTr) will prioritize the Iloilo Worldwide Airport in Cabatuan city within the authorities’s privatization efforts.
DOTr Secretary Vivencio Dizon, joined by different officers of the division, offered Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr., Metropolis Mayor Jerry Treñas, and Uswag Ilonggo party-list Rep. James Ang Jr. an replace on the unsolicited proposal from the Villar Group.
“We assured the mayor and the governor that DOTr will fast-track the present PPP (Public-Non-public Partnership) proposal from the Villar Group to make sure the sustainable improvement and progress of the airport to help the expansion of the town,” Dizon mentioned in an interview when he visited the airport on Saturday.
READ: DOTr pushes PPP on regional airports
He mentioned they have been on the “very superior stage” of the proposal and hoped to finish it throughout the 12 months.
Within the meantime, he mentioned, P190 million in funds from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines can be used for the restore and rehabilitation of the current airport terminal.
The funds shall be used to repair the tools and escalator and add extra seats and elevators, amongst others.
READ: Privatization of Davao Worldwide Airport now underway
Dizon mentioned the federal government would make investments about P200 million this 12 months. The non-public proponent would make investments about P15 billion as a compulsory funding, however as quickly as they arrive in, the preliminary funding can be P3.5 billion.
Iloilo airport
Treñas, who chairs the Infrastructure Growth Committee of the Regional Growth Council, mentioned Iloilo was the second busiest airport in Western Visayas, so there was a necessity to enhance it.
“Privatization is critical as a result of we’re getting extra flights each day. We shall be getting extra flights. I’ve learn that final 12 months, we had two million passengers and the second busiest airport in Western Visayas, second solely to Caticlan,” he mentioned in a separate interview.
READ: Marcos Jr. inaugurates Mactan airport’s second runway
In the meantime, Defensor is mulling the concept of a terminal mall, good for Filipinos who are available droves when sending or welcoming kin.
“I’ve been suggesting that – a mall. That’s potential as a result of I perceive the proponent for the enlargement of the airport is a mall operator. It’s a terminal blended with mall,” he mentioned.
He added that the terminal mall might “accommodate the tradition and the way we behave, how we do issues right here in Iloilo and the entire nation.”
“That’s solely an thought. However I feel, it’s route shifting ahead, particularly, once more, that the proponent can be a mall operator. Hopefully, we are able to have a dialogue with the proponent and the DOTr to have one thing like that, and we wish that to be the primary in the entire nation,” the governor added.
Privatization
Dizon mentioned they have been open to the concept however wanted to work with the non-public operator in command of the grasp plan till 2035.
“The target is to develop the airport as much as 10.5 million passengers,” he added.
Dizon mentioned other than Iloilo, they have been additionally eyeing the privatization of airports in Davao and different main vacationer locations, similar to Siargao, Kalibo, Bacolod, and Dumaguete.
“The instruction of our President is we actually have to privatize as a result of that’s the manner ahead,” he mentioned.
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