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The New Iloilo Airport at Cabatuan, Iloilo

News Blog about the New Iloilo Airport

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Gloria leads new Iloilo airport launch

The Guardian Iloilo. 2007-04-12
Jeehan V. Fernandez

PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will lead the inauguration of the P6.2-billion new Iloilo airport in Sta. Barbara-Cabatuan towns, 19-km north of city, Monday.

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas announced the President’s visit yesterday after receiving initial arrangements of her itinerary from the Presidential Management Staff (PMS).

Treñas said President Arroyo’s party will land on the new airport before proceeding to the city to attend a meeting at the Sarabia Manor Hotel and Convention Center.

The mayor said Arroyo will stay overnight in Iloilo City.

Reports also said President Arroyo might grace the opening of the national Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) sports meet in the city Monday and the ceremonial switch-on of the 32-MW Power Barge 101 of the National Power Corp. (NPC) at Bo. Obrero, LaPaz.

Treñas hopes that with the opening of the new airport, the sale of the old airport in Mandurriao district to private investor will pour in developments in the city.

“I am happy that the new airport is already finished. And with the interests on the old airport, our dream of having a theme park like Star City and Enchanted Kingdom, convention center, medical center fully-accredited by international insurance companies, and Information and Communications Technology (ICT) park might be realized,” Treñas stressed.

He said the ICT park will provide employment opportunities to a large pool of human resources, particularly the youth who are capable of working in call centers.

The mayor said that the old Iloilo airport district will be closed April 21 with the transfer of operations to the new airport.

The 54-hectare old airport property will be bidded out to private investors April 24.

Treñas said he has been talking with key officials of prospective investors relative to the privatization of the old airport.

Department of Finance (DOF) undersecretary for privatization John Philip Sevilla announced that Ayala Land Inc.; SM Prime Holdings, Inc.; Robinson’s Land; Empire East Holdings, Inc.; and Rockwell Land Corp will bid for the old airport site which is expected to fetch from around P500million to P2billion.

Ayala Land is touted as the country’s top real estate firm; SM Prime, the largest mall developer; Robinson’s Land is also focused in operations of chain of shopping malls; Empire East is engaged in developing and marketing housing projects including condominiums and house-and-lot packages while Rockwell operates a mixed-used center in the booming Makati.

Treñas already met with top executives of Robinson’s Land and Empire East on separate occasions weeks ago to discuss the sale of old airport. He will sit down with Rockwell representatives today.

The Guardian Iloilo. 2007-04-12

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