ILOILO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
CABATUAN, ILOILO

Map Showing the Cabatuan access roads (Brgy Tabucan and Brgy Tiring, Cabatuan) at the top, and the Pavia-Santa Barbara-Cabatuan access road (Brgy Duyan-Duyan, Cabatuan) at the right side.

Location:

The Iloilo International Airport is located entirely in the town of CABATUAN, Iloilo;  specifically in Barangay Tabucan, Barangay Gaub, Barangay Duyan-Duyan and Barangay Manguna, all in Cabatuan, Iloilo.

The airport can be reached using either the Cabatuan access roads (Barangay Tabucan and Barangay Tiring, Cabatuan) or the Pavia-Santa Barbara-Cabatuan (Barangay Duyan-Duyan, Cabatuan) access road.

Facilities:

The Cabatuan International Airport is currently handling direct flights to Hong Kong and Singapore, in addition to domestic routes.

It is designed to handle 1.2 million passengers and 11,500 tons of cargoes per year and can accommodate aircrafts as big as an Airbus 330 with a seating capacity of 276.

The three-storey passenger terminal building has an area of 13,000 square meters, designed with complete separation for departing and arriving passengers. It has 10 check-in counters with individual weighing and queuing conveyors, belt conveyor from the check-in to the baggage loading area, flight information display system to guide passengers of the aircraft's time schedule and destination, and a transit counter.

The terminal is also provided with close-circuit television for security and monitoring purposes; and three units of passenger boarding bridges, which can stretch up to 35 meters when fully extended. The boarding bridge is accessible via a separated gang-way (one each for departing and arriving passengers). Other amenities of the building includes 6 x-ray machines, Mabuhay lounges for departing passengers and VIP room, smoking rooms, concessionaire areas for shoppers, lost and found section, counters for hotel and car rental bookings, allocated public telephone booths and others.

The facilities are guaranteed to be handicapped friendly, with railings, elevators, escalators and dedicated space for handicapped in the comfort rooms. The pre-departure area is located at the third floor of the building, with at least 436 seating capacity. The baggage claim area is located at the ground floor, accessible from the second floor with two units of 51 meters conveyor. There is also a separate section for the waiting public and well wishers at the arrival and departure concourse.

In front of the Passenger Terminal Building is a vehicular parking area with 414 slots for private cars, complete with tollbooth and a drivers' lounge and rest rooms. Spaces for taxi, buses and jeepney stands are, likewise, provided.

The airport's Cargo Terminal Building is a 1,300-square meter storey structure consisting of a covered platform, government offices, restrooms and cargo handling area. It is now being occupied by the 3-airline companies, namely, the Philippine airlines, Cebu Pacific and Air Philippines. The area is secured by fence with guard house and parking space for clients and operators.

The Control tower, on the other hand, is a 9-storey 35 meters structure that operates and control air traffic for the airport, with a two-storey operation building that houses the state-of-the-art communication equipment and the briefing room for pilots.

For better and efficient operations, and maintenance, the mechanical and electrical buildings were constructed separately. The mechanical building houses the chiller room, and water supply and pump room, while the cooling system for the whole airport is about 2,400kw, consisting of five units of chillers, each having a capacity of 600kw.

On the other hand, the entire electrical system of the airport can generate 2,500kVA supply of power, while the generator room is equipped with 4 units of 500kVA standby generator and automatically switch-on during power failure.

Other buildings and facilities in the airport include the 2-storey Administration Building, Maintenance Building, and Fire Rescue Stations state-of-the-art navigational aids which enable the airport to operate after dark, and the runway designation designed to cater to even bad weather conditions.

The Airport's environment friendly facilities include a Sewage Treatment Plant, a single storey structure considered as the final holding area of the generated domestic sewage. During the treatment process the solid waste is separated from the liquid and process into an organic material (fertilizer) for the plants, while the liquid is recycled for watering purposes. There is also a Material Recovery Facility (MRF) structure for the segregation of the solid waste collected in the airport. (PIA 6, 2007/06/12, by ES Subong)

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History:

The forerunner of the Cabatuan International Airport in the area was the Cabatuan Airfield during World War II. This airfield was located in Barrio Tiring, Cabatuan, Iloilo.

JAPANESE SURRENDER IN CABATUAN AIRFIELD (RIGHT) © Cabatuan.com Center for Cabatuan Studies The Cabatuan Airfield was the site of the official Japanese surrender on September 2, 1945. On this date, which happened to be also the day the Japanese signed the surrender instrument in Japan (aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, left photo), the Japanese Panay Unit commander signed his own surrender instrument at Cabatuan Airfield (right photo). Had the Japanese not surrendered in September 1945, the very first unit scheduled to land on Japan on November 1945 (in a massive invasion dwarfing even the Normandy Landing in Europe) will be the American troops based in Cabatuan Airfield. A recruiting and training unit of the U.S. Army was also based in Cabatuan to recruit local guerillas for the Allied invasion of Japan. © Cabatuan.com Center for Cabatuan Studies

It was called the Tiring Landing Field (TLF) by the Free Panay Civil Government of Governor Thomas Confesor and the Panay guerillas of Col. Peralta; the Cabatuan Airfield by the Japanese Forces; and the Tiring Airfield by the U.S. Forces.

By mistake, the Americans have also called this airfield the Santa Barbara Airfield even though it is not located in Santa Barbara. They were apparently cognizant of the error and the confusion the name might cause that they usually write "(Tiring)" next to the name. It is worth noting that the neighboring town Santa Barbara HAS NO Barrio Tiring, unlike Cabatuan, which has one. Other writers who do not know the geography of the place may have added to the error by simply assuming that the airfield mistakenly called Santa Barbara is located in a place called Santa Barbara, even though it is actually located in Cabatuan.

Before the Cabatuan International Airport was built, the people of Cabatuan still used the term "Landing" to refer to the airfield site.

Construction of the Cabatuan Airfield started at the beginning of 1942. Maj. Claude Fertig, a Masbate mining executive and a military reserve engineer, was appointed Airfield Officer and was tasked to build airfields for fighter planes in Panay. The planned fighter planes were intended to provide cover to American bombers operating from Mindanao.

Claude Fertig was the brother of Col. Wendell Fertig, another Masbate miner who also escaped to Panay and then to Mindanao, where he became the leader of the guerilla forces of that island.

Claude appointed two American Masbate miners as the supervisor and assistant supervisor of construction at Cabatuan Airfield. Their job was to construct the 5,000 feet by 100 feet runway, as well as taxiways and facilities for 25 fighter aircrafts and their crews.

According to the assistant supervisor of construction, Cabatuan Airfield became the home of the legendary Bamboo Fleet for two months, from the time the unit was created until the Japanese came to Panay. The Bamboo Fleet was a collection of about 5 assorted aircrafts piloted by the U.S. military. It provided a valuable lifeline to Bataan and Corregidor by flying night missions from Cabatuan with badly-needed medical and food supplies. One of the aircrafts, a U.S. Navy duck, earned the legendary nickname Candy Clipper for the candies that it brought to the troops of Bataan and Corregidor, in addition to other supplies.

Because of the progress of the war, only two fighter aircrafts, both P-40's, made Cabatuan Airfield their home before the Japanese invaded Panay. On one occasion, while flying recon from Cabatuan Airfield, a P-40 stumbled upon the Japanese invasion of Cebu. Singlehandedly, the plane strafed all the Japanese vessels and aircrafts that it can, then flew back to Cabatuan to take on fuel and ammo, and took off again to attack the Japanese fleet. This action earned the pilot the Distiguished Service Cross medal (United States).

The P-40 is the same type of aircraft used by the famed "Flying Tigers," with the shark teeth painted under the noses of their planes.

When Bataan was about to fall, aircrafts of the Bamboo Fleet snatched Carlos P. Romulo to Panay and then to Mindanao, earning Romulo the monicker "The Last Man out of Bataan."

TO BE CONTINUED...

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ILOILO AIRPORT INAUGURATION

	January 9, 2007 Infra projects spur RP’s positive business outlook
	March 13, 2007 Iloilo airport seen as catalyst for development
	May 15, 2007 Iloilo airport ready to serve anytime - ATO
	May 30, 2007 West Visayas economy still bouncing - NEDA
	May 31, 2007 DPWH eyes November 2007 completion of P50-M Iloilo Airport main access road
	June 4, 2007 New Iloilo Airport to open June 13
	June 12, 2007 Feature: The new Iloilo Airport in perspective
	June 12, 2007 Iloilo town sees fight vs flooding gaining ground
	June 12, 2007 PGMA to land at new Iloilo Airport
	June 13, 2007 Stronger RP-Japan ties boost development efforts
	June 14, 2007 Commentary: New Iloilo Airport augurs well for Panay Island growth
	June 14, 2007 Iloilo can regain pre-eminence in rice production - Yap
	June 15, 2007 Waray-Waray News: Ginastohan hin bilyones nga airport simbolo hin "political will"
	June 19, 2007 DOTC allocates P50-M for Iloilo Airport fence
	June 27, 2007 RCWDP 6 spearheads disability week opening
	July 17, 2007 Series of activities marks disability week celebration
	July 27, 2007 PGMA's seven priority infra projects completed
	September 19, 2007 Infra development seen as a way to improve Filipinos lives
	November 5, 2007 Baggage carousel now being installed at Tacloban airport
	November 11, 2007 Iloilo mayors in MIGEDC demand more concrete plans and projects

ILOILO AIRPORT

	February 27, 2009 DPWH 6 to finish SONA infra projects in Western Visayas before yearend
	March 4, 2009 TESDA-PGMA scholars thank President Arroyo during Iloilo visit
	March 9, 2009 Road widening project to Iloilo Airport benefits transport, commuters
	March 11, 2009 Investments in infra projects boost Central Philippines tourism
	May 27, 2009 Bidding for rehab projects in Iloilo, Aklan opens in June
	July 27, 2009 Iloilo a beneficiary of several PGMAs infra projects - Trenas
	July 28, 2009 Better Oton-San Miguel road boon to travelers, farmers
	August 13, 2009 Early finish of vital infra projects in Iloilo pushed
	September 16, 2009 Secondary access road to Iloilo Airport seen to bolster regional economy
	September 18, 2009 International flights coming soon to Iloilo Airport, says Mendoza
	September 18, 2009 Mendoza to groundbreak P124-M secondary access road in Iloilo
	September 23, 2009 Feature: 15000th BnB in Brgy. Tiring, Cabatuan
	September 25, 2009 DPWH 6 fast-tracks completion of Sta. Barbara-Cabatuan Road
	September 25, 2009 Feature: PGMA makes September 24 memorable day for Cabatuananons

ILOILO AIRPORT

	January 14, 2010 CAAP sets exam for air traffic service course
	March 10, 2010 Central Philippines now a world class tourist destination
	June 28, 2010 Official lauds PGMA for projects in Western Visayas

ILOILO AIRPORT

October 5, 2011 DOTC earmarks additional funds for WV ports, facilities

ILOILO AIRPORT

	January 19, 2012 Tigum-Aganan weather monitoring project launched Jan. 20
	February 8, 2012 DOT initiates MOA to improve tourism frontliners in WVisayas
	February 9, 2012 PNP Region 6 starts re-greening activity
	February 15, 2012 Hiligaynon News: DOT ginpangunahan ang MOA para sa pagpaayo sang "tourism front liners"
	February 23, 2012 Sight-saving surgeries start in Iloilo
	February 24, 2012 Hiligaynon News: Pagsalbar sang mata pinaagi sa operasyon ginsuguran sa Iloilo
	February 28, 2012 DENR to support community-based NGP initiatives
	March 22, 2012 Upland towns in Iloilo identify potential tourist sites
	April 6, 2012 Iloilo to host National Festival of Talents 2012
	April 14, 2012 Getting to know San Miguel in a song
	May 6, 2012 Antique dads petition DOTC to use local airport as flight destination
	May 7, 2012 Kinaray-a News: Domestic flights ginapagabay para sa Antique airport
	June 4, 2012 Iloilo airport ready for international flights
	June 22, 2012 Hiligaynon News: Akreditado nga mga tour operators nagtambong tour packaging seminar
	June 21, 2012 Accredited Iloilo tour operators to undergo tour packaging seminar
	July 17, 2012 Iloilo to HK direct flight starts Nov 8
	July 25, 2012 Hiligaynon news: Direkta nga pagpanakayon gikan sa Iloilo pa Hong Kong magasugud Nobyembre 8
	August 9, 2012 Iloilo Guv cites gains in SOPA
	August 19, 2012 MIWD steps up efforts to increase water supply
	August 27, 2012 DOT, DFA to work for sustained int’l flights in Iloilo
	September 10, 2012 News feature: Ilonggo students want more info on eco-tourism, survey says
	September 12, 2012 Campaign against illegal recruitment gets boost with MOA signing
	September 13, 2012 Hiligaynon news: Kampanya batuk sa illegal recruitment ginpabaskug sa pagpirma sang MOU
	September 15, 2012 Iloilo Airport seeks more personnel for int’l flights
	October 22, 2012 Singaporean travel agents to visit West Visayas
	November 9, 2012 Iloilo now an international gateway to the world- Drilon
	November 9, 2012 Tour packages to promote, boost Iloilo’s tourism underway
	November 12, 2012 Hiligaynon news: Isa na ka ganhaan para sa kalibutan ang Iloilo, suno kay Drilon
	November 13, 2012 Hiligaynon news: Tour packages nga magapasanyog sang turismo sa Iloilo ginapaayo na
	November 14, 2012 Confucian proverb inspires teen center creation in Iloilo
	November 26, 2012 CUI cites huge ecotourism potential for Iloilo
	December 11, 2012 Iloilo’s upland towns gear for ecotourism accreditation
	December 27, 2012 'Quinta' affects more than 2,500 families in Iloilo
	December 27, 2012 Flood waters inundate 19 Iloilo towns

ILOILO AIRPORT

January 7, 2013 DOT sees brighter prospects for WVisayas tourism in 2013