ILOILO City – The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Region 6 said it is expediting the P190.5-million improvement project for Iloilo Airport in Cabatuan, Iloilo. However, it won’t commit to a fixed timeline for completion.
This budget, sourced from the 2024 General Appropriations Act, will fund several key upgrades.
But according to Engr. Eusebio Monserate Jr., CAAP Region 6 area manager, while the improvements are prioritized, they must first undergo the procurement process.
“We aim to start immediately, but we are subject to procurement processes,” Monserate said, explaining why the agency has not decided on a target date of completion.
The pre-procurement phase alone is scheduled for August of this year yet.
The P190.5-million budget will cover the enhancement of airport equipment, some of which were installed in 2005, two years before the airport began operations in 2007.
“Our current equipment is outdated. Hence, our primary focus is on installing two new escalators and repairing the existing one,” Monserate said.
In addition to the escalators, CAAP will procure three more chillers this year and an additional three in 2025, complementing the chiller installed last year. The airport will then have a total of seven chillers.
CAAP’s technical engineers are currently in Japan inspecting the chiller systems expected to be installed in the coming months.
“The new chillers will provide additional comfort within the airport,” Monserate added.
Other planned improvements include repairing the defective public address system and information display station.
Besides these upgrades, CAAP plans to expand the airport’s pre-departure area to accommodate an additional 300 passengers.
Currently, the pre-departure area can hold 720 passengers, which is insufficient to meet demand.
Iloilo Airport handles 70 flights daily, with 35 arrivals and 35 departures, operated by Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific Air, and AirAsia.
These upgrades are expected to significantly enhance the airport’s facilities and passenger experience./PN
