By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
The proposed P80 million budget for the improvement of the Bacolod-Silay Airport would not suffice, Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said on Tuesday, September 19.
Benitez made a response after Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Director General Captain Manuel Antonio Tamayo inspected the Bacolod-Silay Airport last week, aimed to ensure that the airport maintains the highest standards of maintenance and operational excellence.
Tamayo has also committed to allocate P80 million in funds to develop the airport next year.
Benitez said the number of broken equipment and facilities at the airport has increased.
Among the facilities and equipment that are reported to be breaking down include the toilets and air conditioning units.
He said the number of flights and aircraft at the Bacolod-Silay Airport has also risen, resulting in overcrowded terminals.
In a social media post on September 14, Tamayo was dismayed at the Bacolod-Silay Airport’s current state.
Tamayo strictly ordered airport staff to improve the facility’s security measures and ensure that its equipment is maintained.
“Bacolod-Silay International Airport plays a vital role in facilitating travel to and from Negros Occidental and the Western Visayas region, contributing to tourism and economic growth in the area,” CAAP said in a Facebook post.
“With the inspection, CAAP reiterates its dedication to upholding the highest standards of aviation safety and efficiency nationwide, guaranteeing a safe and enjoyable travel experience at all airports in the Philippines,” it added.
The agency is committed to maintaining top-quality aviation infrastructure and ensuring a safe and seamless travel experience for passengers.
Opened for commercial operations in 2008, the Bacolod-Silay Airport was designed to accommodate 800,000 to one million passengers a year.
In 2019, or before the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of passengers passing through the terminal peaked at 1.7 million with at least 16 flights per day.
The Bacolod-Silay Airport, located in Negros Occidental’s Silay City, replaced the Bacolod Domestic Airport in the capital city’s Barangay Singcang-Airport.
Despite being billed as an international airport, Bacolod-Silay Airport is designated as a Class 1 Principal domestic airport by CAAP.
There have been multiple proposals to develop, operate and maintain the airport through a public-private partnership agreement./DGB, WDJ