ZAYCO SAYS
Shuttle, road lighting
to new airport needed
BY CARLA GOMEZ

Negros Occidental Vice Governor Isidro Zayco yesterday said the need for an affordable shuttle system and proper lighting of the road to the New Bacolod-Silay Airport have to be addressed for the convenience and security of the public.

The P5.6 billion new Bacolod-Silay Airport is set to open on Jan. 18 and the old airport in Bacolod City will close down after the last flight out on Jan. 17, Edgar Mangalili, Department of Transportation and Communication airport project director, said Tuesday.

Antonio Alfonso, Air Transportation Office - Bacolod manager, said the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board has been tasked to approve applicants for a shuttle system to and from the new airport at affordable rates.

SP: Retain old site, too
BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO & NIDA BUENAFE

The Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod yesterday passed a resolution reiterating its previous stand for the retention of the existing airport in Bacolod City upon the request of the Mayor.

Councilor Alex Paglumotan said the SP had passed Resolution No. 478 strongly supporting the call of Mayor Evelio Leonardia and the Retain Bacolod Airport Movement for the retention and improvement of the present airport.

It also passed Resolution No. 522 referring to the 17-hectares of land owned by the government that it had requested from the President for the use of an airport, and for other economic purposes even as the airport in Silay becomes operational, he said.

PNOC seeks Kanlaon
buffer zone entry
BY GILBERT BAYORAN

The state-owned Philippine National Oil Co.-Energy Development Corp. is seeking conformity from Governor Joseph Marañon and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan for its proposed geothermal energy development within the 169-hectare buffer zone of the Mt. Kanlaon National Park .

Agnes de Jesus, PNOC-EDC senior vice-president, in her letter to Marañon, a copy of which furnished to the SP, said this is intended to augment the steam supply of the existing Northern Negros Geothermal Power Plant in Brgy. Mailum, Bago City , which started operations in February last year.

However, despite favorable endorsement from Marañon, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan yesterday deferred action on the PNOC request, pending submission of documents and detailed plans for their proposal to enter the buffer zone, which is a forestal area.