ILOILO — To address passenger congestion that worsens during peak flight arrivals, the long planned expansion of the Iloilo International Airport — including the construction of a dedicated international terminal building — is already in the pipeline, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has confirmed.
CAAP-Iloilo terminal supervisor Arthur Parreño told the Sangguniang Panlalawigan on February 5 that the proposed international terminal, with an estimated cost of about P200 million, is already lined up for implementation, pending completion of required procedures.
Construction could start toward the end of this year or early next year.
The planned expansion comes as the airport now handles 35 to 40 flights daily, both domestic and international, straining terminal facilities — particularly when four to five aircraft arrive almost simultaneously, each carrying about 200 passengers.
“Kon isipon mga 200 passengers kada isa ka flight. Kinahanglan expand naton ang seating capacity sa final departure area. Kon magdulongan ang apat ukon lima ka eroplano medyo mabatyagan ang pag ginutok,” Parreño added.
Parreño clarified that the proposed international terminal is separate from the ongoing airport enhancement project worth P190 million, which is now about 60 percent complete.
The current upgrade is funded by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) under the 2024 General Appropriations Act.
Of the total amount, P132.90 million is allocated for the rehabilitation and improvement of the Passenger Terminal Building, covering civil and structural works, architectural upgrades, mechanical and electrical improvements, plumbing works, installation of new furniture and equipment, escalators and elevators, and repairs to the passenger boarding bridge and departure conveyor.
Another P37.55 million is earmarked for the supply, installation, and commissioning of three new 600-kilowatt chillers to ensure reliable temperature control in the terminal, including related mechanical, electrical, and civil works.
Airport officials said the completion of both the ongoing upgrades and the planned international terminal expansion is expected to significantly ease congestion and improve passenger experience at Iloilo’s main aviation gateway.
Lieutenant Colonel Valentino Dionela (Ret.), assistant director general II for Aerodrome Development of CAAP, confirmed last September 2025 that the Iloilo International Airport was set for major upgrades as aviation authorities prepare the facility for 24-hour operations and a terminal expansion aimed at easing congestion and boosting international flight capacity.
The airport would be ready to operate round-the-clock once international flights become more sustained, he added.
“We will have a new pre-departure area for international flights, which adds around 500 seats. But at any time, when there are no international flights and there are many domestic passengers, we can utilize that,” said Dionela./PN
