Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia yesterday appealed to the group pushing for the conversion of the old Bacolod Airport into a private economic zone not to pursue the matter because this could affect their efforts to reopen it.

At the same time, he presented to the media yesterday an office order signed by Air Transportation Office executive director Daniel Dimagiba dated Jan. 23, 2008 creating an 11-man team to conduct a study and recommendation for the proposed re-opening/retention of the old Bacolod Airport .

This was after Dimagiba denied knowledge of the creation of such a team saying they have submitted their recommendation to the office of Transportation and Communication Secretary Leandro Mendoza for the continued closure of the Bacolod Airport .

Leonardia said “I don't know what's happening to them. All the more, we suspect there are submarines underground or whatever.” He said they will continue to push for the reopening of the airport. He believes the official stand of the Sangguniang Panlungsod is also for the retention of the airport, he added.

If there are individuals who think otherwise, that is their individual right, Leonardia said.

A group representing different sectors in Bacolod and Negros Occidental wrote the President asking her to declare the old Bacolod Airport as a private ecozone.

Leonardia appealed that this is not the time to push for the conversion of the airport into an ecozone because this could effectively close the door on their efforts to have it reopened.

DESIRE OF THOUSANDS

“We respect their signatures but let us remember that thousands and thousands have signed for the retention or reopening of the Bacolod Airport . So we believe this is what our people want and need,” he said. Because even the taxi drivers, based on their informal survey, have low morale because their business is affected, he said.

Leonardia said “We are with these people who want an ecozone in Bacolod but not in that area, and not while there is still a move to have the airport re-opened.

NOT GOVERNMENT PROPERTY

He is wondering if they have realized that, out of the 37-hectare airport property, 20 hectares belong to business tycoon Lucio Tan, he said. Clearly Tan has already expressed his desire or acceptance in favor of the retention, he added.

Leonardia said the Lizares and Torres families are the dominant owners of the 17-hectare property and they have received information that it was a conditional expropriation.

He also said that if ever the property is taken and the area will not be used as an airport, it will revert back to the owners.*CGS

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