By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Around 100 families living near the Kabankalan City Domestic Airport will be affected by the expansion of its runway to accommodate bigger aircraft.

Kabankalan Mayor Benjie Miranda said the affected residents, mostly informal settler families, will be relocated as they live on the airport’s property.

Its expansion by an additional 600 meters will allow bigger planes, such as the Airbus A320, to land at the airport.

The Kabankalan City Domestic Airport, which sits on a 104-hectare property in Barangay Hilamonan, has a 1,400-meter runway.

The runway expansion is part of the requirements of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).

Miranda said the residents did not oppose the relocation, as long as the city government would provide assistance with their resettlement.

He added that they are considering a one-hectare property in the city’s Barangay Hilamonan to be used for the relocation.

The mayor said two companies have submitted proposals to establish a pilot school at the domestic airport.

Meanwhile, Negros Occidental 6th district Congresswoman Mercedes Alvarez said the completion of the airport still needs around P850 million.

The city government has allocated P10 million per year for the facility’s development, aside from the P40 million in allocated funds.

Alvarez said she is lobbying for more funds from CAAP and the Department of Transportation.

In August 2023, Miranda expressed optimism that the airport project will be completed this year./DGB, WDJ