Concerned government agencies are now working to install a lighting system along the road leading to the New Bacolod Silay Airport and setting up an affordable shuttle system to ply about 20 kilometers from Bacolod City .

This was announced yesterday in a Philippine Information Agency press statement but it did not say if such would be in place in time for the opening of the new airport on Jan. 18.

Rep. Jose Carlos Lacson (Neg. Occ., 3 rd district) and Rep. Monico Puentevella ( Bacolod ) said they would look into the work done as far as setting up an affordable shuttle system is concerned.

DOTC Airport Project Director Edgar Mangalili said the Air Transportation Office should be coordinating with the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board on the shuttle system for the new airport.

Bacolod ATO Manager Antonio Alfonso told Rep. Lacson last night that all applicants for shuttle services to and from the new airport were told to submit their papers to the LTFRB.

All approved franchises will be accredited by the ATO as the regulatory agency, he told Lacson.

Lacson said he was told that among the applicants for the shuttle system were Frank Carbon of Weesam, Roy Villadelgado and Joseph Sian but it was not known if any LTFRB action had been taken already.

Some airport employees are also asking for a shuttle system to the site as it is quite far, Lacson said.

Puentevella said he already requested ATO and LTFRB to solve the transport problem.

“I believe LTFRB will issue temporary permits for those who want to ply the route to the airport,” he said. He also said he will talk with top DOTC officials on the matter today. “We cannot afford to inconvenience the passengers to and from the airport,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mangalili said the terminal fee at the new airport will be similar to the amount being charged at the new Iloilo airport, which is about P30, subject to increase later.

The new airport that will begin operations on Jan. 18 will be inaugurated at 3:30 p.m. of the same day with Vice President Noli De Castro as main guest, Mangalili said.

Also expected to attend are Transportation and Communication Secretary Leandro Mendoza, Rep. Mikey Arroyo (Pampanga, 2 nd District), Japanese Ambassador Makoto Katsura, JBIC Representative Hiroshi Togo and Negros and Bacolod congressmen, he said.*CPG

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