ILOILO CITY – The Department of Transportation is prioritizing the proposal to privatize the Iloilo Airport that needs to be rehabilitated and redeveloped.

PASSENGERS arrive at the Iloilo Airport. (Tara Yap)
“We will fast-track the current public-private partnership (PPP) proposal,” said DOTr Secretary Vince Dizon over the weekend here while conducting an inspection of facilities outside Metro Manila.
This is part of the thrust of the Marcos administration to bring improvements to key transportation infrastructure in the country.
Dizon cited the proposal of Prime Asset Ventures Inc. (PAVI), a subsidiary of the Villar Group. PAVI is one of the three companies that submitted proposals to rehabilitate and redevelop Iloilo Airport that opened to commercial airline operations in June 2007.
Dizon said PAVI’s more than P20-billion proposal is already on a “very advanced stage” and should be completed by this year.
While the PPP proposal is still being processed, Dizon said P190 million has been allocated this year for initial repairs on the terminal building of the Iloilo Airport.
Works to be implemented under the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) will include repairs or upgrade of air-conditioning units, escalators, passenger seats, and rest rooms.
The airport supposedly of international standards is now operating beyond its capacity and has been subject of criticisms and complaints, including its poor air-conditioning system and non-functioning elevators.
Dizon met Gov. Arthur “Toto” Defensor Jr., Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas, Iloilo City Rep. Julienne “Jam-Jam” Baronda, and Uswag Ilonggo party-list Rep. Jojo Ang during his inspection.