Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. yesterday said he will ask Bacolod Silay Airport manager Mecine Reyes to explain her side on numerous complaints being raised about the present state of the airport in Silay City.

At the same time the governor said he will ask the national government though the Regional Development Council to expand the Silay airport terminal that is congested, and also to extend its runway by 5 meters.

As of yesterday 189 persons had joined an open Facebook Group called “Bacolod-Silay Airport... just our opinion!” where complaints about the state of the airport in Silay City are being aired. On Friday there were 145 members.

Silay Mayor Jose Montrelibano, in response to some of the complaints on the airconditioning and WIFI connection at the airport posted this on Facebook: “Just called Mr. Efren Nagrama of CAAP (Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines) and he said that work on the aircon started last February 6. It is projected to be done in 60 days. WiFi is temporarily wired and is working now.”

Former Rep. Edith Villanueva, on the FB airport wall, yesterday said “Where is the P200 terminal fee going? We need an answer to this from our airport authorities!! Could it please clean up the hands and fingerprints markings on the glass windows? Could it be used to clean stained urinals, dirty floors, destroyed flushes and sensors, malfunctioning escalator and x-ray conveyors, all the little things that add up to make us proud of our airport??!!”

And Rolando Uy replied “Not only the P200 terminal fee, also the P40 parking fee. They say that it will be used in the maintenance of the airport. By the way do we really have to pay the parking fee? If you look at the receipt it is an Iloilo firm that is collecting the fee. Can they show us where the (fee) went?”

Teejay Te on the same wall, wrote based on latest statistics, there are about 1.5million pax who use the airport, which means the Bacolod Silay Airport earns roughly P150 million annually from the terminal feed alone.

Mark Will Mayo Magallanes said this is very unsettling since P150M can do much. He also points out that not included there are landing fees that can amount to millions annually.

“Every time a plane lands in the airport, they pay a landing fee, also the rent for commercial occupants, ticketing office, etc. Where does the money go?” he asked.

Joey Kilayko Montalvo wrote: “Can the group draft a manifesto addressed to Sec. Mar Roxas so that we can have a benchmark for the timeframe of response and action on the petition? We can make all the noise here but the DOTC/CAAP should officially acknowledge the problem as brought to them by the affected citizens instead of merely ‘noting’ the issue as vented in mainstream and social media.”

The DAILY STAR has been unable to reach airport manager Mecine Reyes for comment.*CPG

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