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Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Philippines

Friday, January 18, 2008

Negros Oriental

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Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia waves as the last flight taxis out.*

Negros Oriental

‘VAT suspension on oil will bring back RP deficit'
PAO chief gets threat
NegOr joins Sinulag fest
Solon backs tourism drive
More Korean students arrive
Rotary Club, Japanese donate school supplies

Star Business

Dads want clear policy on renewable energy
CLO, markets coordination sought in sidewalk clearing
SP to regulate plastics use by stores
PAL may lower targets after downgrade

Sports

NOPSSCEA 10-Under tilt opens Jan. 26
Bacolod windsurfers win in Boracay event
BUS Group tourney tips off
RP football body holds board meeting today
SCOOP-Bacolod officers elected

DOTC CHIEF ANNOUNCES
New Negros, Iloilo hubs
alternate int'l airports, too
BY CARLA GOMEZ

The Philippine government is declaring the New Bacolod-Silay and Iloilo airports alternate international airports open to flights from neighboring countries, Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza announced yesterday.

We are declaring both airports international gateways because they conform to international standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization, he said.

The declaration will be made through a bulletin to be posted worldwide before the end of this month, allowing international flights from the ASEAN region to land in Silay City , he said.

Emotional end at
Bacolod site
BY NIDA BUENAFE

Emotions ran high yesterday as Bacolod City residents waved goodbye to Philippine Airlines PR136 at 6:40 p.m. , the last flight out of the Bacolod Airport .

Seeing the last plane taking off from the tarmac along with Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia, members of the press, airport security and personnel, PAL Bacolod manager Job Lamela said he felt sad and at the same time excited.

Sad, as he was leaving his office at the airport where he had reported for work everyday for the past 44 years, and excited to see his new office in the Silay airport today. Lamela started as a ticket clerk of PAL in 1964 and will retire from the service in November this year.

Fight for reopening
will continue: mayor
BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO

“The thunder of the last plane was reverberating in my heart,” Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia yesterday recalled, as he stood at the tarmac of the Bacolod Airport to watch the last flight of Philippine Airlines leave Bacolod for Manila at about 7 p.m. , before the airport was closed.

It was the same plane that he had boarded in Manila to return to Bacolod yesterday that touched down at the Bacolod Airport at about 5:55 p.m.

Asked how he felt about the closure of the airport upon his arrival, Leonardia said it must be like the feeling of a patient awaiting the amputation of one of his body parts, and he felt sad.

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