Wednesday, January 23, 2008
THE P5.6-billion New Bacolod-Silay Airport, which has been operational four days ago, complements the super region strategy of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Negros Occidental, the province where the new airport of international standards is located is part of the Central Philippines, which is under the super region strategy adopted by the President prioritizes tourism investments and energy independence.
Sun.Star Network Online's coverage of the Sinulog 2008 Festival
"The new airport gives further emphasis to the super region strategy to promote and hasten further economic growth and development nationwide with the focus on the comparative advantages per region and provinces to promote more effective and efficient complementation in the forward-backward linkages," Vice President Noli de Castro said in his message during the inauguration of the New Bacolod-Silay Airport.
De Castro added that under the strategy, the government is committed to pursue prioritized program of airport development to trigger business. This (airport) will open a gateway to regional centers and promote major tourism destination and to make tourism promotion the primary development plot to Central Philippines.
Japanese Embassy Representative Eiichi Oshima during the inauguration revealed that based on statistics the old Bacolod Airport is the fifth biggest airport in terms of the volume of domestic passengers in the country and has continually increased by more than 50 percent in the past ten years.
Thus, according to Oshima, a bigger and more efficient airport is needed to meet this demand and the completion of the New Bacolod-Silay Airport meets the demand that will eventually increase the economic activity in the province and improve the lives of the Negrenses.
"With the new airport in Silay, it offers endless opportunities for the city but it does not mean loss for Bacolod, rather it (Bacolod) can focus on its competitive edge in commerce and business and as a highly urbanized city, it has the potential to develop the old airport into a central business area or a commercial mix-use area," de Castro added.
The New Bacolod-Silay airport is an example of a project where the government is an active facilitator for other donors like Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) to come in for financial assistance.
Source: sunstar.com.ph
New Bacolod-Silay airport opened
January 18th, 2008
MANILA, Philippines -- Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro R. Mendoza opened yesterday for commercial operations the P5.7-billion New Bacolod-Silay Airport.
The new Bacolod-Silay Airport will replace the existing Bacolod City Airport.
Located in Barangay Bagtic, Silay City, the new airport was built to cater to the increasing number of passenger and cargo traffic in Negros Occidental and its influence areas.
"It will boost the business and economic activities in the Western Visayas region," Mendoza said.
Vice President Noli de Castro led the inauguration ceremonies together with Secretary Mendoza.
Construction of the new airport was funded under the New Bacolod (Silay) Airport Development Project of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) for P5.6 billon.
Source: http://www.asianjournal.com/?c=55&a=25525
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