The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines is proposing a P600 million budget for the completion of Kabankalan Airport in Negros Occidental, disclosed Sixth District Rep. Mercedes Alvarez recently.
Alvarez said the proposed P600 million will cover the airport apron, terminal and emergency buildings.
The proposed budget will be presented to the incoming Department of Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, a former president of the Philippine Air Lines, for inclusion in the 2023 national budget, she added.
CAAP representatives inspected the Kabankalan airport last week.
Alvarez assured of seeing to it that a certain budget will be allocated to Kabankalan airport during the proposed 2023 budget deliberations.
If it pushes through, it would be the second airport in Negros Occidental, which currently has the Bacolod-Silay Airport and an airstrip in Sipalay City. The island also has an airport for Negros Oriental in Dumaguete City.
The 100-hectare airport site is located in Barangay Hilamonan, Kabankalan City, and construction started in 2007. (Gilbert Bayoran via tvds photo by tvds)