International flights coming soon to Iloilo Airport, says Mendoza

PIA Press Release 2009/09/18

International flights coming soon to Iloilo Airport, says Mendoza

by T. Villavert

Iloilo City (18 September) -- "The Iloilo Airport is now complete," declared DOTC Secretary Leandro Mendoza as he announced today that international flights will be coming soon in this part of the country.

Secretary Mendoza, who led the ground-breaking ceremony of the P124 million secondary access road in Barangay Tabucan, Cabatuan leading to the Airport complex, announced that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered to establish an international desk which will be administered by the Customs Immigration and Quarantine.

"Darating na ang international flights," said Mendoza as he emphasized that Iloilo International Airport had already been declared as an international destination.

The DOTC Secretary said during the occasion that the Cebu-Pacific will launch its Iloilo-Hongkong flights, as well as the Korean Airlines which will mount Korea-Iloilo flights.

"So this completes the Iloilo International Airport," declared Medoza expressing confidence that investors will come in to spur economic development in the region.

This could be achieved because of the potentials of the area near the airport to become and industrial zone, "eventually becoming an economic zone".

The project is one of the priority SONA commitments of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The groundbreaking ceremony was also be graced by DOTC Undersecretary Doroteo Reyes II, Asec Thomson Lantion, Asec Red Kapunan, Cong. Arthur D. Defensor of Iloilo ’s third district, Iloilo Governor Niel D. Tupas, Sr., Cabatuan Mayor Ramon C. Yee, and other national, provincial and municipal officials.

The road project which is expected to bolster the reginal economy will serve as an alternative road to the new Iloilo Airport for passengers coming from the northern and central part of Iloilo, the provinces of Antique, Capiz and Aklan.

The secondary access road is a 3.2 kilometer-stretch from the national highway in Barangay Tabucan to the airport. It will be a two-lane with 5.5 meter width asphalt concrete pavement.

Accordingly, the project covers an area of 64,944 sq.m., traversing the five barangays of Cabatuan, namely, Tabucan, Tiring, Talanghauan, Ga-ub, and Duyan-duyan.

Upon completion, the new road network will help reduce traffic at the main access road during peak hours, and will likewise save at least 15 minutes travel time or kilometers for airport passengers from the north. (PIA6)



CABATUAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Cabatuan, Iloilo, Philippines

Cabatuan.com - Timeline 2009