The proposed airport in Basay town in the southernmost part of Oriental Negros can be realized but needs millions of pesos in funds and the expertise of the Air Transportation Office, Rodolfo Perez, area center manager, said during his recent visit to Dumaguete City.

Perez noted that initially, the project was to have been a joint venture among the local government units of Sta. Catalina, Bayawan and Basay.

However, he added building an airport and managing it requires the technical expertise of the ATO as LGUs do not have such requirements.

Perez said that he had found the proposal feasible during an ocular inspection with Basay Mayor Beda Canamaque a few months ago.

The proposed project was to rehabilitate the airstrip of the defunct Construction and Development Corporation of the Philippines mining facility in Barangay Maglinao in Basay, and convert it into a real airport for commercial flights.

Perez said that, for the plan to push through, ATO/DOTC ASEC Nilo Jatico has suggested to first donate the site for the proposed Basay airport to the ATO.

The agency can then start doing the survey, planning, proposal and sourcing of funds for the project.

It is not known yet how much it would cost to build the airport, as everything depends on the type of facility to be erected in Basay. Perez said the airstrip in Barangay Maglinao stretches to about 1,700 meters and, if plans push through, the Basay airport can accommodate light aircraft such as 19-seater planes.*JG

back to top