PGMA echoes gov’t plan to convert Mandurriao Airport into business hub

Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo reiterated the government’s plan to convert the Mandurriao Airport into an economic hub once the New Iloilo Airport of International Standards in Cabatuan-Sta. Barbara area becomes operational.

The President made her announcement during a dinner with local government units and business sectors in Iloilo Saturday at Tatoy’s Manokan. She already issued same statement in her visit to Iloilo last year.

The President said the proceeds of the sale of the Mandurriao airport area to private investors would be spent to pay the loan incurred by the government for the construction of the new Iloilo International Airport. Part of the proceeds will also go to the improvement of the city and the promotion of tourism industry, she said.

In the same dinner, Mrs. Arroyo expressed her thanks to the full support and confidence extended to her by local government unit and business sectors in Iloilo in spite of all the efforts of the opposition to overthrow her government.

The President only made a very brief statement during the dinner. Prior to the dinner, the President visited the towns of Concepcion in the northern part of Iloilo and Guimbal, south of Iloilo City.

Meanwhile, as Raul Gonzalez Jr. maintained the position earlier stated by his father former congressman and now Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez Sr. that the privatization of the Mandurriao airport has a very serious economic impact to the city.

It will not just affect the people of Mandurriao who earn their living at the airport but the entire city, he said.

However, Gonzalez there is no more choice as the city and province of Iloilo could not afford to have two airports.

This early, the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) has suggested to convert Mandurriao airport into a commercial, industrial or residential zone. Of the three options, the most viable is to transform the airport into a commercial zone.

Gonzalez added that the Central Bank is not keen of endorsing another export processing zone. Most of the provinces have already their own export processing zones. The Central Bank does not want additional export processing zones in the country, he said.

On the plans to convert the Mandurriao airport into a commercial zone, land developers and companies such as the Ayala, Sy of the SM Prime holdings, Metro Pacific and the Lopezes group of companies are welcome to enter into such business ventures.

By Maricar M. Calubiran
Source - The News Today

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