The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Negros Occidental yesterday unanimously endorsed the proposed expansion of the Bacolod-Silay airport runway and terminal to the Regional Development Council of Western Visayas as recommended by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines. This was in support of the resolutions of the Negros Occidental Provincial Development Council-Executive Committee and the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Silay, that also concurred in the request of Mayor Jose Montelibano for the airport extension, that he had raised to President Benigno Aquino III during his recent visit to Negros Occidental.

Montelibano raised the need to extend the airport runway by 500 meters, and expand its existing terminal to accommodate increasing international and domestic flights.

He said the approval of the request by the RDC is a preliminary requirement for the airport expansion to be included in the priority plans for Negros Occidental and Western Visayas for the preparation of budgetary allocations for the coming year.

The RDC is expected to deliberate on the proposed extension during its meeting Friday in Silay City, Negros Occidental.

Montelibano stressed the need the expand the ticketing area for departing passengers that is often congested, and for the runway to accommodate bigger aircrafts.

On the other hand, the construction of the 10-kilometer access road to the Bacolod-Silay airport, which has a budget of P404 million, is now ongoing. It consists of two lanes, six bridges, seven intersections, drainage and slope protection structures.

The project route alignment starts at the north tip of the Bacolod Circumferential Road heading northward, traversing sugar cane plantation areas in Talisay City and then northward to Brgy. Bagtic in Silay City.*GPB

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