Mayor Benjie Miranda launched the Kabankalan airport as a tourism and economic gateway during the charter day celebration of Kabankalan City in Negros Occidental on Monday, July 31, but said it may take some time before it will be operational.
There was an airshow with skydivers at the Kabankalan Airport on Monday, he said.
There is a firm, whose name he withheld, that has expressed its intention to put up a flying school at the Kabankalan airport, Miranda also said.
Miranda said in a meeting with representatives of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Rep. Mercedes Alvarez (Neg. Occ., 6th District) it was stated that more funds are needed for the completion of the Kabankalan airport.
The aim is for the airport to be operational in two years, Miranda said.
Alvarez said the airport is under CAAP because it is a national government project.
“We are still lobbying for its completion because the majority of the budget for the Kabankalan airport is funded by the national government,” she said.
Alvarez said the last time she spoke to CAAP the rough estimate for the completion of the airport was P500 million.
“We are lobbying for additional funds from the DOTr so the airport can be completed,” she said.
Alvarez filed House Bill 2771, an act establishing a domestic and commercial airport to be known as the Kabankalan City Domestic Airport, in July 2022 which is pending in the House of Representatives.
Kabankalan is among the fastest growing cities in Negros Occidental. Next to Bacolod City, it has the highest gross and net income, she said in the bill.
It serves as the hub for economic activities in Southern Negros and also connects Negros Oriental to Occidental. It is also the gateway to various tourism destinations in the 6th District of Negros Occidental, she added.
The proposed Kabankalan City Domestic Airport situated in Barangay Hilamonan would be the second airport in Negros Occidental after the Bacolod-Silay International Airport, which is more than 100 kilometers away, and the third in the island of Negros, she said.
It is envisioned that the Kabankalan City Domestic Airport will contain both cargo and passenger terminals, a control tower, as well as loading and navigation systems with an initial runway spanning over 1,300 meters and room for expansion is available, she said.
“This air transportation development will definitely boost the tourism and trading activities thus improving the entire island’s economy,” Alvarez said.*