A resolution urging the President to seriously consider the transformation of the area occupied by the present Bacolod City Airport into a special economic zone so the city can avail of the benefits of R.A. 7916 was approved by the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod Wednesday.

R.A. 7916 or the Special Economic Zone Act of 1995, could provide investment promotions, employment creation and export generation for the people of Bacolod, Negros Occidental and the whole Western Visayas region, the resolution said.

The Committee on Communications and Energy chaired by Councilor Jocelle Batapa-Sigue was tasked to recommend the development of an economic zone within the City of Bacolod in order to improve its economic situation and that of the Province of Negros Occidental, as well, as the whole Region 6.

The resolution said the SP believes that the present Bacolod Airport site is viable for an ecozone since it will no longer be operational once the new Bacolod Airport in Silay City starts operations. Based on international standards, it is not possible to maintain two airports because of limitation of the distance between two air transport control towers or acrodomes.

The site is reportedly 37 hectares, while the Philippine Economic Zones Authority requires that an area should be at least 25 hectares in order to be an ecozone.

The SP said in the resolution that it believes that the site satisfactorily meets almost all the criteria under Sec. 6 of R.A. 7916.*CGS

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