Airport old terminal renovation to start this year

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

KALIBO, Aklan – The old terminal building of the Kalibo International Airport (KIA) has been lined up for rehabilitation and renovation this year.

This was revealed by Aklan Rep. Florencio Miraflores after the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) and the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) assured him that the funds would be ready for the terminal renovation.

Miraflores said savings from the expansion of Puerto Princesa airport in Palawan amounting to P50 million of CAAP will be realigned to KIA and P35 million from DOTC will be enough to jumpstart the old terminal construction for 2011.

“The expansion of the airport this year will push through with the realignment of CAAP savings for the renovation of the old terminal at a cost of P120 million,” he said over DyRU Super Radyo Kalibo.

Miraflores has been pushing for airport-projects developments and the completion of facilities of international standard.

Future developments, he said, involve the extension of the runway by 100 meters going to Barangay Tigayon for safer and efficient airport operations.
To settle the controversy of the lot owners near the airport, CAAP is bent to acquire their properties to be sourced from savings of the site acquisition for the installation of instrument landing systems (ILS).
In a related development, CAAP director general Ramon Gutierrez met Miraflores and Kalibo airport manager Engr. Percy Malonesio to assess the KIA last week.