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.

Zayco said a shuttle system will have to be set up by the DOTC to address the need of passengers since the new airport is a bit far and will be difficult to reach for those who do not own vehicles.

The provincial government is willing to help in whatever way it can, he said. We will have to discuss with them what their action plan well be, he said.

The lighting of the road to the airport also needs to be addressed by either the Silay City government or the Department of Public Works and Highways to ensure the security of those who pass it at night, he said.

Some portions of the road are between sugarcane fields, he noted.

Meanwhile, he said policemen can be fielded to patrol the area to provide those who arrive on night flights adequate security.

Zayco said he will also discuss the need for the lighting of the road to the airport with Transportation Secretary Mendoza.

Silay Mayor Jose “Oti” Montelibano also said the approval of the applicants for the airport shuttle service will be made by the LTFRB. However, Montelibano said he does not know who the applicants are yet.

We are working on the kinks for the opening of the new airport, he said.

The New Bacolod-Silay Airport sits on a 6-kilometer stretch in Barangay Bagtic, Silay City , which is about 5 kilometers from the poblacion and about 20 kms. from Bacolod City , information posted on its website (www.bacolod-silayairport.com) said.

It's runway is 2 kilometers, more than twice the length of the 900 meters of the existing airport in Bacolod City . It has provisions for a 500 meter extension which will accommodate bigger crafts serving international routes, the website information also states.

The airport has 15 check-in counters and three pre-departure areas that lead to three tubes, it adds.*CPG

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