BACOLOD City – The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) here is urging the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) to prioritize the upkeep, maintenance, and improvement of the Bacolod-Silay Airport, with emphasis on enhancing passenger amenities.
This comes after the SP’s approval of the resolution authored by Councilor Em Ang, requesting Mayor Greg Gasataya to formally endorse the appeal to CAAP.
Ang said the improvements should cover basic facilities such as toilets and other essential passenger amenities to better serve Bacoleños and visitors.
Although geographically situated in Silay City, Negros Occidental, the Bacolod-Silay Airport is widely recognized as Bacolod airport since most passengers are either residents of Bacolod or bound for the city.
“The airport plays a vital role in transportation, tourism, and economic development not only for Bacolod but also for Negros Occidental and nearby provinces,” Ang stressed.
She added that the current passenger facilities, particularly comfort rooms, require urgent attention to improve travelers’ comfort and experience.
“Proper maintenance and development of the airport will support the growth of local tourism, facilitate commerce, and boost the overall economy of Bacolod,” she said.
In February this year, then Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, now the city’s lone district congressman, also wrote to CAAP Director General Raul Del Rosario, requesting P200 million in funding for the airport’s improvement and renovation.
In a reply dated April 24, Del Rosario confirmed that CAAP had allocated P205 million under its 2025 corporate operating budget for the Bacolod-Silay Airport development project./PN
