ILOILO CITY – The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and attached agency Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines have started the rehabilitation of the Iloilo Airport.
THE Iloilo Airport at night. (Tara Yap)
The project started after the P190-million funding from the DOTr from the 2024 General Appropriations Act (GAA) was downloaded to CAAP for the implementation of the rehabilitation in two phases.
DOTr Secretary Vince Dizon assured during an inspection of the airport last March that the project will begin this year.
“This is part of our commitment to ensure that airports across the country are safe, efficient, and passenger-friendly,” said CAAP Director General Raul del Rosario in a statement.
The first phase funded with P133 million includes the improvement of the passenger terminal building, which has served beyond its capacity when it opened in June 2007.
When completed, the passenger terminal building can accommodate 675 domestic and 407 international passengers. At present, it can currently accommodate 367 domestic and 360 international passengers.
Works include repair or upgrade of furniture, rest rooms, fire alarms, passenger boarding bridge, departure conveyor, escalators, and airconditioning units.
The second phase with a P37.55-million allocation involves installation of three new chillers that will augment airconditioning units to ensure reliable temperature. Passengers have complained for over two years that the terminal area is very warm.
The government will also conduct asphalt overlay on the airport runway.