New Iloilo airport to open on March 2007

Panay News. October 14, 2006

ILOILO City – The New Iloilo Airport Development Project will become operational in March 2007 while the Negros Occidental airport is set for completion in the second quarter of 2007, revealed Sen. Franklin Drilon.

Last October 9, the Senate Finance committee chaired by Drilon approved a P5.5-billion infrastructure fund that will pave the way for the operation next year of these two biggest airport projects in Region 6.

"The bombing of the Negros airport is certainly a setback, but the move of the committee to provide funding for this airport sends the signal that we are determined to push through with the project that will bring the region economic progress," Drilon said

Drilon called on the Philippine National Police (PNP) to implement appropriate security measures to ensure the safety of the New Iloilo Airport Development Project so as not to delay its opening amidst the bombing of the Silay airport project.

New People's Army rebels numbering at least 30 and disguised as policemen raided the Silay airport project before dawn of Sunday, bombing structures and torching construction equipment.

In the wake of this development, the government urges the public to cooperate because such terror acts will only affect the economy negatively and embolden political destabilization that will hurt the country and destroy the gains that has already been achieved. It also continues to press on with measures to secure vital projects and infrastructures in the country and to further intensify the counter- terrorism campaign in all fronts.

The allocation for the New Iloilo Airport of international standard in Iloilo amounting to P2.712 billion and P2.788 billion for the Negros Occidental airport was declared by Drilon during the committee hearing on the P17.6 billion budget of the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) for 2007 submitted for Senate approval.

"The rise of a first-rate airport in Western Visayas that is compliant with international standards is crucial to the development of the country. This will boost our air transportation services, making the Philippines more accessible to the rest of the world," said Drilon.

Panay News. October 14, 2006

Military sends troops to Sta. Barbara-Cabatuan airport

Sunstar Iloilo. Saturday, October 14, 2006
By Ruby P. Silubrico

THE 3rd Infantry Division (ID) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has sent personnel to the Airport of International Standard located at Sta. Barbara and Cabatuan.

A platoon of soldiers were deployed since Thursday and it serves as an augmentation force to the detailed members of the PNP that were recently sent by Senior Superintendent Joel Napoleon Coronel of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO).

Captain Reynante Besa, spokesperson of the 3rd ID, said the deployment of troops is being done following the Mindanao bombing believed to be executed by members of the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI). The bombing resulted to the death of innocent persons.

Around 30 cops surround the airport along with 40 private security guards who are fully armed.

On the other hand, Chief Superintendent Geary Barias of the Police Regional Office (PRO) 6 is appealing to the community to help them especially in monitoring suspicious looking persons. “The community is the best weapon in our intelligence networking.”

“They must be vigilant with the people around them. We really need their support and cooperation so that we can immediately react in case of emergency,” Barias added.

Last Sunday, around 30 rebels entered and bombed the Hanjin Construction Company, a sub-contractor of the Airport in Silay City, Negros Occidental at around 2 a.m.

Heavily armed men of Komiteng Reheyon Negros Larangan Guerlla 3 (KRN-LG3) disarmed the security guards and carted away 18 caliber 38 revolver and three long firearms.

Sunstar Iloilo. Saturday, October 14, 2006

Army platoon deployed to Iloilo airport project site

Panay News. Oct. 12, 2006
By MONTESA GRIÑO

ILOILO – A platoon of Philippine Army (PA) troops from the 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) based in Jamindan, Capiz will augment the security force of the Iloilo Airport of International Standards here.

Maj. Gen. Victor Ibrado, commanding general of the 3ID, agreed to the deployment after conferring with Chief Supt. Geary Barias, director of the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6).

The new Iloilo airport is sprawled in a 184-hectare site between the towns of Cabatuan and Sta. Barbara, located 19 kilometers north of Iloilo City.

Earlier, Barias ordered Senior Supt. Joel Napoleon Coronel, director of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO), to review the security measures at the airport project following the burning of the Bacolod international airport project in Silay City, Negros Occidental Sunday morning by 30 armed men believed to be members of the New People’s Army (NPA).

PNP Director Gen. Oscar Calderon had assured Ilonggos that the new Iloilo airport of international standards project will not suffer the same fate as the airport project in Silay City .

"I had a conversation with Calderon. He gave me the assurance that security measures will be upgraded in these two airports,” said Sen. Franklin Drilon.

Like the airport project in Silay City, the Iloilo airport is in its last phase of completion and will begin operation next year.

The plan is to convert the area into a commercial, residential and semi-industrial district. It will be a domestic trunk line airport that will replace the existing airport in Mandurriao.

The airport project, for which P2.7 billion is being allocated in the budget of the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), with the loan proceeds of P1.5 billion, is about to be finished.

The civil works and the electrical works are about to be finished on December 31, 2006.
“Test flights are supposed to be made on the first quarter of next year, the turnover will be made on March 17, 2007," Drilon said.

Last September 29, 2006, Drilon had an ocular of the site of the new airport in Iloilo and was pleased to see that the construction of the airport is within schedule.

The three-story passenger terminal, about 12,000 square meters in floor area, houses the baggage conveyor on the first floor, the check-in area and the airline offices on the second floor and the pre-departure area on the third, and the arrival area along the corridors that lead to the first floor.

The airport can accommodate six aircrafts simultaneously parking at a time. Air navigation systems, including a radar area, is also in place.

Panay News. Oct. 12, 2006

Security heightened at new Iloilo airport – Drilon

The Guardian Iloilo. Oct. 12, 2006

PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) Director General Oscar Cal deron has assured that the Iloilo airport project will not suffer the same fate as the Negros Occidental Airport in Silay City, which was bombed last Sunday by alleged operatives of the New People’s Army, Senate Finance Committee chairman Sen. Franklin M. Drilon said today.

“I had a conversation with General Calderon and he gave me the assurance that the security measures will be upgraded in these two airports in order to prevent a similar attack,” said Drilon, who is also Liberal Party president.

Like the airport project in Silay City, the Iloilo airport is in its last phase of completion and will begin operation next year.

“The airport in Iloilo, for which P2.7 billion is being allocated in the budget of Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), with the loan proceeds of P1.5 billion, is about to be finished. The civil works and the electrical works are about to be finished on December 31, 2006. Test flights are supposed to be made on the first quarter of next year, the turnover will be made on March 17, 2007,” Drilon said.

During the Senate Committee on Finance hearing on the proposed P17.6 billion DOTC budget next year, Drilon, who is chairman of the finance committee, inquired from Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza what security measures are in place in view of the attack.

“On the case of Iloilo, the security forces within the area are already taking the appropriate assessment. Like in the Silay City airport, they are going to install a security detachment in the Iloilo airport,” Mendoza informed the committee.

Mendoza also told the committee that although he had instructed airport authorities to minimize the period of delay, the attack will cause one to two months delay on the construction of the Silay airport.

“Hopefully, we can secure the Iloilo airport better, so we won’t suffer any delay,” Drilon said.

“We will draw all possible to make sure that it will not happen to Iloilo airport,” Mendoza assured Drilon.

Drilon played a lead role in the facilitation of the P6.2 billion Iloilo airport project in the past eight years. He is part of the steering committee which oversees the project implementation. In November 1998, then President Joseph Estrada issued a memorandum creating the Iloilo Airport Coordinating Committee, with Drilon as adviser.

Last September 29, 2006, Drilon had an ocular of the site of the new airport in Iloilo and was pleased to see that the construction of the airport is within schedule.

The three-story passenger terminal, about 12,000 sq. meter in floor area, houses the baggage conveyor on the first floor, the check in area and the airline offices on the second floor and the pre-departure area on the third, and the arrival area along the corridors that lead to the first floor. The airport can accommodate six aircrafts simultaneously parking at a time. Air navigation systems, including a radar area is also in place.

“Iloilo, whose airport has the fourth highest passenger traffic in the country, will benefit from the influx of tourists and investors once the new airport becomes operational in March 2007,” Drilon said.

Drilon, along with President Arroyo and Secretary Mendoza, launched the project in Iloilo in January 2004. The airport is seen to increase air passenger and cargo traffic in the province and its influence areas to boost economic development in Western Visayas.

The new airport is sprawled in 184-hectare site between the towns of Cabatuan and Sta. Barbara, located 19 kilometers north of Iloilo City. The plan is to convert the area into a commercial, residential and semi-industrial district. It will be a domestic trunk line airport that will replace the existing airport in Mandurriao.

Last Sunday, NPA rebels bombed P30 million worth of equipment used in building the Negros Occidental airport project.

The P4.3 billion airport project, located 14 kilometers north of Bacolod, is funded partly by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation and was scheduled for completion in the second quarter of next year.

The Guardian Iloilo. Oct. 12, 2006

Police chief says Iloilo airport safe

Sunstar Iloilo. Wednesday, October 11, 2006

NATIONAL Police Chief Oscar Calderon is confident that the Iloilo airport project would not suffer the same fate as the Negros Occidental Airport in Silay City, which was attacked on Sunday by communist guerillas.

Senate finance committee chairman Senator Franklin M. Drilon said Tuesday that he talked with Calderon and was given the assurance that security measures in both the airports in Iloilo and Silay would be tightened to prevent a similar attack.

Drilon, Liberal Party president, said the Iloilo airport is in its last phase and will begin operation next year.

"The airport in Iloilo, for which P2.7 billion is being allocated in the budget of the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), is about to be finished. The civil works and the electrical works are about to be finished on December 31, 2006. Test flights are supposed to be made on the first quarter of next year, the turnover will be made on March 17, 2007," Drilon said.

During the Senate committee on finance hearing on the proposed P17.6 billion DOTC budget next year, Drilon, who is chairman of the finance committee, inquired from Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza what security measures are in place in the airports in view of the attack.

"In the case of Iloilo, the security forces within the area are already taking the appropriate assessment. Like in the Silay City airport, they are going to install a security detachment in the Iloilo airport," Mendoza informed the committee.

Mendoza also told the committee that although he had instructed airport authorities to minimize the period of delay, the attack would cause a delay in the completion of the Silay airport by one to two months.

"Hopefully, we can secure the Iloilo airport better, so we won't suffer any delay," Drilon said.

Drilon played a lead role in the facilitating the P6.2 billion Iloilo airport project. He is part of the steering committee overseeing the project implementation.

In November 1998, then President Joseph Estrada issued a memorandum creating the Iloilo Airport Coordinating Committee, with Drilon as adviser.

Last September 29, Drilon had an ocular inspection of the site of the new airport in Iloilo and was pleased to see that the construction of the airport is within schedule.

The three-story passenger terminal, about 12,000 square meters in floor area, houses the baggage conveyor on the first floor, the check-in area and the airline offices on the second floor, and the pre-departure area on the third, and the arrival area along the corridors leading to the first floor.

The airport can accommodate six aircrafts simultaneously parking at a time. Air navigation systems, including a radar area, are also in place.

"Iloilo, whose airport has the fourth highest passenger traffic in the country, will benefit from the influx of tourists and investors once the new airport becomes operational in March 2007," Drilon said.

Drilon, along with President Arroyo and Secretary Mendoza, launched the project in Iloilo in January 2004. The airport is seen to increase air passenger and cargo traffic in the province and its influence areas to boost economic development in Western Visayas.

The new airport is sprawled in 184-hectare site between the towns of Cabatuan and Sta. Barbara, located 19 kilometers north of Iloilo City. The plan is to convert the area into a commercial, residential and semi-industrial district. It will be a domestic trunk line airport that will replace the existing airport in Mandurriao.

Last Sunday, NPA rebels bombed P30 million worth of equipment used in building the Negros Occidental airport project.

The P4.3 billion-airport project, located 14 kilometers north of Bacolod, is funded partly by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation and was scheduled for completion in the second quarter of next year.

Sunstar Iloilo. Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Security up in new Iloilo airport site, DOTC exec calls for more guards in vital govt installations

The News Today. 10/11/2006
By Florence F. Hibionada

Communist terrorists New People's Army (NPA) managed to sow terror and damage when it attacked a multi-million government airport project in Silay City, Negros Occidental. As such, government agents are now under orders to tighten its guard on similar infrastructure works particularly the multi-billion New Iloilo Airport Development Project (NIADP) in Sta.Barbara-Cabatuan, Iloilo.


Similar call for highest in alert in all government installations throughout Western Visayas if only to avert possible attacks by the communist terrorists out to destabilize the region and get back at their targets for non-payment of extortion activities cum revolutionary taxes.

This, The News Today (TNT) gathered from Transportation and Communication Undersecretary Ricardo "Cano" Tan when reached for an update yesterday (Tuesday). Tan said, work has been temporarily suspended in Silay City pending the go -signal from local police tasked to secure the area for possible remaining explosives and evidences.

Yet as soon as said 'clean-up' is done, the project will continue as planned with Tan saying, the government will not allow the communist terrorists to win.

While government acknowledged the setback the attack caused primarily on the millions in damage to the property of the airport contractor, Tan said work will resume at the soonest time possible and the airport will soon stand.

In a meeting, Tan disclosed that security measures were drawn and assessment of the incident thoroughly discussed if only to serve as guide and deterrent in the future. The Iloilo airport meantime will see extra set of security from the elite Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team, the local police and military personnel.

"I am confident that the Iloilo airport will be secured," Tan ended.

Meantime, a top army official slammed the Silay attack calling the communist terrorists "economic saboteurs."

"The dastardly act perpetrated by the NPA once again blatantly displayed their love of terror. Not only that, but this band of economic saboteurs' also added misery to peoples' lives by depriving them of progress." Major Lyndon Sollesta, Commanding Officer, 3rd Civil Military Operations Unit said.

"This strategic act of terror is intended to collect extortion money in the guise of ‘revolutionary tax', scare away investors, create an image of governments inadequacy of protecting its interests and keep the people poor by taking away employment opportunities. In the tactical perspective, the NPAs could divert attention from the real area of military operations to relieve the pressure being put up by the Army in its Internal Security Operations campaign against their fighters, or maybe project that they are still a force to be reckoned with. But what was actually peculiar is that they are contributing to the poverty problem of our country. We should be aware that insurgency causes poverty. For communist terrorists believe that making the people poor will ease their way in pushing ahead the communist revolution. Economic sabotage is intentional!"

This latest NPA-attack occurred early morning of Sunday where about 30 NPAs clad in PNP Regional Mobile Group battle fatigues attacked and burned engineering equipment of HANJIN Construction. The terrorists are believed to be from the Larangan Guerilya 3, Kometing Rehiyon-Negros. Hanjin is presently undertaking the construction of the new Silay City International Airport estimated the total damages to be worth between P40-50 Million. This construction firm gained the ire of communist terrorist for its refusal to give in to the NPA's extortion scheme.

The News Today. 10/11/2006

‘SAFE AND SOUND’ - No attack on Iloilo airport, vows PNP

Panay News. Oct. 10, 2006

ILOILO – The Philippine National Police assured Ilonggos that the new Iloilo airport of international standards project will not suffer the same fate as the airport project in Silay City, Negros Occidental which was set on fire by the New People's Army (NPA).

"I had a conversation with (PNP Director) Gen. (Oscar) Calderon. Ge gave me the assurance that security measures will be upgraded in these two airports,” said Sen. Franklin M. Drilon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.

Like the airport project in Silay City, the Iloilo airport is in its last phase of completion and will begin operation next year.

The new Iloilo airport is sprawled in a 184-hectare site between the towns of Cabatuan and Sta. Barbara, located 19 kilometers north of Iloilo City. The plan is to convert the area into a commercial, residential and semi-industrial district. It will be a domestic trunk line airport that will replace the existing airport in Mandurriao.

The airport project, for which P2.7 billion is being allocated in the budget of the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), with the loan proceeds of P1.5 billion, is about to be finished.

The civil works and the electrical works are about to be finished on December 31, 2006.
“Test flights are supposed to be made on the first quarter of next year, the turnover will be made on March 17, 2007," Drilon said.

During the Senate Committee on Finance hearing on the proposed P17.6 billion DOTC budget next year, Drilon inquired from Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza what security measures are in place in view of the attack.

"In the case of Iloilo, the security forces within the area are already taking the appropriate assessment. Like in the Silay City airport, they are going to install a security detachment in the Iloilo airport," Mendoza informed the committee.

Mendoza also said that although he had instructed airport authorities to minimize the period of delay, the attack will cause one to two months delay on the construction of the Silay airport.

Last Sunday, NPA rebels set on fire P30-million worth of equipment used in building the Negros Occidental airport project.

The P4.3 billion airport project, located 14 kilometers north of Bacolod, is funded partly by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation and was scheduled for completion in the second quarter of next year.

"Hopefully, we can secure the Iloilo airport better, so we won't suffer any delay," Drilon said.

"We will draw all possible to make sure that it will not happen to Iloilo airport," Mendoza assured Drilon.

Drilon played a lead role in facilitating the P6.2 billion Iloilo airport project in the past eight years. He is part of the steering committee which oversees the project implementation. In November 1998, then President Joseph Estrada issued a memorandum creating the Iloilo Airport Coordinating Committee, with Drilon as adviser.

Last September 29, 2006, Drilon had an ocular of the site of the new airport in Iloilo and was pleased to see that the construction of the airport is within schedule.

The three-story passenger terminal, about 12,000 square meters in floor area, houses the baggage conveyor on the first floor, the check-in area and the airline offices on the second floor and the pre-departure area on the third, and the arrival area along the corridors that lead to the first floor.

The airport can accommodate six aircrafts simultaneously parking at a time. Air navigation systems, including a radar area, is also in place.

"Iloilo, whose airport has the fourth highest passenger traffic in the country, will benefit from the influx of tourists and investors once the new airport becomes operational in March 2007," Drilon said.

Drilon, along with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Mendoza, launched the project in Iloilo in January 2004. The airport is seen to increase air passenger and cargo traffic in the province and its influence areas to boost economic development in Western Visayas.

Panay News. Oct. 10, 2006

P5.5M set for new airports in region

Sunstar Iloilo. Tuesday, October 10, 2006

THE Senate finance committee approved Monday a P5.500-billion infrastructure fund that will pave the way for the operation next year of two of the biggest air transport projects in Region 6, the New Iloilo International Airport and the Negros Occidental Airport.

The finance committee approval came despite the bombing last Sunday of the Negros Occidental airport allegedly by communist New People's Army rebels.

Some P30 million worth of equipment for the airport's construction were destroyed. The airport was set for completion in the second quarter of 2007.

"The bombing of the Negros airport is certainly a setback, but the move of the committee today (Monday) to provide funding for this airport sends the signal that we are determined to push through with the project that will bring the region economic progress," said Sen. Franklin Drilon, chairman of the Senate finance committee.

During the committee hearing on the P17.6 billion budget of the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) for 2007, Drilon said the allocation submitted for the new airport in Iloilo was at P2.712 billion and P2.788 billion for the Negros airport.

Realizing that the new airport being built in his hometown in Iloilo is as vulnerable to attacks as the airport in Silay City, Drilon called on the police to intensify security measures at the Iloilo airport so as not to delay its opening on March 2007.

"The rise of a first-rate airport in Western Visayas that is compliant with international standards is crucial to the development of the country. This will boost our air transportation services, making the Philippines more accessible to the rest of the world," Drilon, a native of Iloilo, said.

Drilon played a lead role in the facilitation of the P6.2 billion Iloilo airport project for the past eight years. He is part of the steering committee that oversees project implementation. In November 1998, then President Joseph Estrada issued a memorandum creating the Iloilo Airport Coordinating Committee, with Drilon as adviser.

Last September 29, Drilon had an ocular of the site of the new airport in Iloilo and was pleased to see that the construction of facility is within schedule.

The three-storey passenger terminal, about 12,000 square meters in floor area, houses the baggage conveyor on the first floor, check-in area and the airline offices on the second floor, pre-departure area on the third, and arrival area along the corridors that lead to the first floor. The airport can accommodate six aircrafts simultaneously parking at a time. Air navigation systems, including a radar area, are also in place.

"Iloilo, whose airport has the fourth highest passenger traffic in the country, will benefit from the influx of tourists and investors once the new airport becomes operational in March 2007," Drilon said.

Drilon, along with President Arroyo and DOTC Secretary Leandro Mendoza, launched the project in Iloilo on January 2004. The airport is seen to increase air passenger and cargo traffic in the province and to boost economic development in Western Visayas.

The new airport is sprawled in a 184-hectare site between the towns of Cabatuan and Sta. Barbara, located 19 kilometers north of Iloilo City.

The plan is to convert the area into a commercial, residential, and semi-industrial district. It will be a domestic trunk line airport that will replace the existing airport in Mandurriao.

Sunstar Iloilo. Tuesday, October 10, 2006

New Iloilo airport secured vs rebels

Sunstar Iloilo. Tuesday, October 10, 2006
By Ruby P. Silubrico

POLICE strengthened their security forces in Iloilo following Sunday's New People's Army (NPA) attack on a Korean firm constructing the Silay City airport.

Police Regional Office Director Geary Barias on Monday instructed Iloilo Provincial Police Director Joel Napoleon Coronel to send additional personnel to the airport of international standards located in Sta. Barbara and Cabatuan.

Coronel said 22 personnel, including members of the Special Weapons and Tactics (Swat) team, were deployed and that he will put eight more. The men are heavily armed.

Apart from the 30 personnel from the provincial police office, Coronel alerted two teams near the airport to be ready to augment security forces providing security to the airport.

Some 40 private security guards assigned at the airport compose a support unit to police personnel. They are armed with 12-gauge and caliber .38 revolvers.

"Our airport here is heavily guarded by our (police) personnel and security guards," Coronel said.

The Hanjin Construction Company, a sub-contractor of the International Airport of Silay in Negros Occidental, was attacked by 30 men believed to be members of NPA headed by Ka Jimmy under the Komiteng Reheyon Negros Larangan Guerella 3.

They entered the site at 2 a.m. on October 8 after pretending to be personnel of the Regional Mobile Group (RMG). When inside, they disarmed the security guards.

They seized 18 caliber .38 revolvers and three shotguns from the private security. They bombed some equipment. The damages reached P20 million.

Barias said the motive for the attack was the failure of Korean contractors to give the rebels the revolutionary tax they demanded.

He added that the company had been receiving extortion letters since last year but contractors ignored these. He said the contractors also did not report the matter to the police.

Silay police and the Philippine Army hunted down the perpetrators but were not able to get them.

The police are trying to establish if some of the culprits have access to the airport because some of the armed attackers covered their faces with bonnets.

Coronel said that here in Iloilo, no extortion letter was sent to the airport contractors since January 2006.

"So far, there are no threats from the rebels apart from the civil problem from residents in the area who are asking for their right of way," he said.

On the other hand, Barias said that he would place a detachment in the area to promote police visibility.

He said the regional police had been planning to put a detachment in the area even during the time of then Regional Director Doroteo Reyes II but this did not materialize.

Sunstar Iloilo. Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Drilon satisfied with New Iloilo Airport

Sunstar Iloilo. October 03, 2006
By Nelson C. Robles

"I AM pleased with the progress of the construction of the New Iloilo Airport. I am satisfied,’ said former Senate President Franklin Drilon after an hour tour at the New Iloilo Airport.

Ilonggo Senator Franklin Drilon with Governor Niel D. Tupas Sr., Friday, 12 noon, made an ocular inspection of the on-going New Iloilo Airport in Cabatuan, an adjacent town of Sta. Barbara.

Tupas picked up Drilon and his wife at the old Iloilo Airport in Mandurriao, Iloilo City. The couple took a Cebu Pacific flight originated from Cebu City.

Drilon and his party immediately took a ride upon stepping out from the arrival area. A convoy of security cars followed on the way going to the site of the New Iloilo Airport in Cabatuan-Sta. Barbara.

Members of the local press waited earlier inside the Press Conference Room of the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) anticipating the arrival of the Ilonggo senator.

A brief press conference was held prior to the ocular inspection.

Representatives from the Japanese contractor gave complete details of the report on the status of the New Iloilo Airport.

Drilon based from the official reports submitted to him from the contractor, relayed to the media that the airport project was 4 percent ahead of schedule and is 77 percent complete without slippage.

“Ilonggo residents should be proud of the new airport as this would boost eco-tourism developments in both the city and province of Iloilo and the entire island of Panay,” Drilon said.

The New Iloilo Airport officially started its construction on April 14, 2004 and will soon have its inaugural flight on March 19, 2007.

Commercial flights will start on the 2nd quarter of next year.

Accompanied by the local press and the Japanese technical personnel, Drilon and Tupas with former Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary Rene Villa, the entourage visited the wide runway of the airport and experienced the panoramic view of the area.

In a snide remark, Drilon failed to hide his disappointments of the current fiasco towards the controversial Piatco Terminal in Manila anticipating the New Iloilo Airport will resume flight operations ahead of the former.

Sunstar Iloilo. October 03, 2006

Japanese contractor faces labor raps

The News Today. 10/2/2006
By Erly C. Garcia

Three construction workers at the New Iloilo Airport Development Project (NIADP) in Cabatuan, Iloilo have filed labor cases against their Japanese employers Hiroshi Iwata and Siichi Takata, manager and assistant manager, respectively, of Field Services Corp. a subcontractor of Taisei Shimizu Joint Venture (TSJV).

The complainants are Nathaniel Gaa, a mechanic, Jose Leo Bancaya, Head Maintenance/Heavy Equipment Mechanic, and Elmer Bancaya, driver/operator/purchaser.

The three through their lawyer Atty. Joshua Alim filed cases for illegal dismissal, underpayment of wages and salaries, non-payment of service incentive leave pay, and non-payment of 13th month pay against said Japanese nationals at the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) in Iloilo City.

Said cases are docketed as SRAB Case Nos. 06-07-50222-06, 06-07-50223-06 and 06-07-50251-06.

The three workers were employed starting September 9, 2004 and were dismissed for unknown reasons in March 2006.

Based on the record, Field Services Corp. employs more than 300 construction workers.

Alim said there are other workers suffering the same plight with his clients but do not have the means to fight out their rights.

He said the workers are being exploited and are not given the protection laid down in the Labor Code.

As this developed, Alim wrote Mr. Noel Ojoy, Alien Control Officer of the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation Region VI to check if Iwata and Takata have working permits.

In his letter Alim also sought the help of the BID as “(W)e were informed that the two Respondents will be leaving the country soon after their contract at the Iloilo Airport located at Cabatuan-Sta. Barbara. The case we filed might not be decided yet at that time and we are afraid they (Respondents) will be out of the country already by the time the decision comes out.”

In this regard Alim requested Ojoy to “to do something in order to stop the (R)espondents from leaving the country until such time the cases filed against them would have been decided and terminated.”

The News Today. 10/2/2006