The proposed transfer of the Zamboanga International Airport from its present location to Mercedes-Talabaan area in the east coast is gaining grounds as the city government awaits the downloading of the first tranche of the P200 million for the acquisition of lot for the new airport project.
Zamboanga City Mayor Maria Isabel Climaco-Salazar, in her State of the City Address on Tuesday told that the city government and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) last year for the acquisition of lot, procurement of services for appraisal, survey works, transfer of titles and other documentary requirements.
The mayor added that the Public Private Partnership Center had also evaluated two unsolicited proposals for the City of Zamboanga. Megawide Corporation intended to handle and fund the airport transfer and the Manila Water’s proposal for a waste water to fuel project.
The City Administrator’s Office has directed the local selection committee to fast track the process, the mayor revealed.
With the adoption of the 2016-2025 Comprehensive Land Use Plan and the 2018 Revised Zoning Ordinance, the Mayor said, “we can dream big for Zamboanga City and transform it into a world-class metropolitan city with new growth areas.”
“We are just getting started and the possibilities and unlimited potential of the City of Zamboanga excites us to plan and to continuously work hard so that an amazing quality of life will be within reach for every Zamboangeño family as we enter a new decade,” Climaco-Salazar added.