A former Secretary of the Department of Transportation and Communication and former head of the Air Transportation Office said the Bacolod Airport can be reopened if there is a need for it.

In a phone interview, Vicente Rivera said yesterday that it does not mean that the Bacolod Airport cannot be used just because there is an airport in Silay. The people of Bacolod and Negros are lucky to have two airports because, in case of an emergency in Silay, there is an alternate airport in Bacolod , he said. He added that he is in favor of the use of both airports.

Rivera said he is not aware of any existing rules that do not allow planes to fly within a proximity or distance. He said he believes there is no compromise of safety, as long as the airport is properly managed, citing the proximity between Sangley in Cavite and the Ninoy Aquino International Airport .

Businessman Rodolfo Alvarez said “When you talk of airport security, the alternate airport system is a tried and tested formula. That is why in other countries, when they open new airports, they don't close the old ones because you need alternate airports.”

He said that during their meeting with the ATO, they pointed out that the population of the whole Negros is bigger than that of the whole of Panay . If the Bacolod Airport will not be re-opened, the province will only have two airports while Panay has five, he said. That is why Panay is secure in terms of alternate airport, he added.

Rivera said he believes the people should be given an option. The Bacolod Airport can also be used for light aircrafts, or for a training school, he said, adding that aviation should be promoted and developed in our country.

“Let's make use of these airports for what is best for the country, especially the training of pilots,” Rivera said.

Meanwhile, Alvarez said they are hopeful that ATO will come up with a favorable recommendation, given the reasons they presented. They know that in America the airports are near each other but it is only a matter of air traffic control, he said.

Alvarez pointed out that the President gave her approval to the Mayor for the operation of Air Philippines at the Bacolod Airport . He said he believes she will honor that commitment while Philippine Airlines president Lucio Tan assured Mayor Evelio Leonardia that he will take care of everything.

Charlie Hagad said that, aside from addressing the issue on safety, they showed ATO the benefits of having an airport in Bacolod , including other socio economic benefits.

Leonardia said, “We keep on pressing for the airport re-opening, considering that we have already hurdled the President, Tan and even Transportation and Communication Secretary Leandro Mendoza is open to it.”*CGS

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