ANTIQUE – Senior officials of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) met with Gov. Paolo S. Javier on Friday, September 19, to finalize the turnover, inauguration, and commencement of operations of the Evelio B. Javier (EBJ) Airport in Barangay Funda-Dalipe, San Jose de Buenavista.
Present during the meeting were DOTr Undersecretary for Aviation Jim Sydiongco, CAAP Director General Lt. Gen. Raul del Rosario, Engr. Ed Mangangalili, CAAP Deputy Director General for Administration (DDGA) Atty. Danjun Lucas, and Head Executive Assistant Capt. Benzar Bryan Balagtas.
It was agreed that all operational offices will be transferred from the old airport to the new passenger terminal before October 1. The agencies were given two weeks to complete the relocation and the demolition of old facilities to prepare for the airport’s formal inauguration.
“Any date after October 15, the airport can already be inaugurated and begin operations,” Sydiongco said.
Following the meeting, the officials inspected EBJ Airport facilities as well as the newly constructed Salazar Elementary School, which was relocated from behind the old runway to a safer site to accommodate the airport’s expanded runway.
Gov. Javier expressed full support for the project, emphasizing that the operationalization of EBJ Airport will strengthen Antique’s connectivity while opening more opportunities for tourism and local economic growth.
Currently, Philippine Airlines operates three weekly flights between San Jose de Buenavista, Antique, and Manila every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday./PN
