Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia yesterday said Rep. Mikey Arroyo (Pampanga, 2 nd District) is for the reopening of the Bacolod Airport because he is concerned with the plight of the people affected by its closure, like the vendors and porters.

Arroyo said that, although he congratulates the whole province on the opening of the new airport, it does not mean that the old airport in Bacolod , that has served Negros since time immemorial, should be closed down.

The airport started operating in 1936.

“We should take care of the lives of those who centered their lives around the old airport, the President's son said.

“Mayor Bing is not only a political ally, but a personal friend, and I know he loves the City of Bacolod very much,” he added.

Leonardia said this is absolutely a big boost to their cause to proceed to work for the reopening of the Bacolod Airport . This is like Arroyo having applied “CPR” on the Bacolod Airport , he said.

They are very thankful for the unqualified support of Arroyo as he has always considered himself a Bacolodnon and Negrense and his heart is for the growth and continued development of Bacolod City , Leonardia said.

SUPPORT FOR RETENTION

He said Arroyo assured them of his support in the presence of the Retain Bacolod Airport Movement exponents Rodolfo Alvarez, Charlie Hagad and Lucy Ponce, and also Manapla Mayor Manuel Escalante, who is the president of the Mayor's League of Negros Occidental, and Rep. Jeffrey Ferrer (Neg. Occ. 4 th District), who are also supportive of the reopening of the Bacolod Airport .

Leonardia said he was at the new airport in Silay yesterday to pay a courtesy call on Vice President Noli de Castro and he felt privileged to sit beside him during the cocktails.

He said the Vice President is open to explorations and what is possible for the Bacolod Airport , and they are glad he did not shut it down.

“All these developments continue to give us hope, no matter how uphill it may seem,” Leonardia said.

Meanwhile, Leonardia appealed to the Department of Transportation and Communication not to remove the runway lights and other navigational aids, as well as, the communication equipment from the Bacolod Airport until a final decision on the status of the airport has been reached.

In his letter to DOTC Secretary Leandro Mendoza dated Jan. 17, 2008, Leonardia said he is bringing the matter to his attention since there have been news reports in local media that the Air Transportation Office is going to remove the equipment once the new airport in Silay City becomes operational.

He said they have officially brought their appeal to the attention of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, through the office of Executive Secretary Edgardo Ermita, when they were in Malacañang last week for their scheduled meeting with him (Mendoza), which, unfortunately, did not materialize as he had to attend the inauguration of the new airport in Misamis Oriental.

OPERATION COSTS

Leonardia said “I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate our openness to an arrangement where the ATO need not attend to the cost of operations and maintenance of the Bacolod Airport .”

He said PAL president Lucio Tan has expressed his willingness to shoulder the expenses, and so has the City of Bacolod . “Perhaps, likewise, a joint venture agreement may be forged between Tan and the city government,” he added.

VENDORS' WOES

On the other hand, the remaining vendors at the old Bacolod Airport yesterday said their income has greatly reduced after the airport was closed Thursday.

Georgina Salvilla, now 46, of Purok Santol, Brgy. Taculing said she started selling sweepstakes, dried fish and fruits at the Bacolod Airport since she was 11 years old. She said she still has one child studying in college, while four others are already college graduates.

Salvilla said she used to earn between P1,200 to P1,400 a day before the airport was closed but as of yesterday afternoon she earned only P400. She said that if she had to sell in Silay she would have to spend P78 daily for her jeepney fare.

Candelaria Cuyno of Brgy. Handumanan said her two sons, like their late father, are among about 70 porters at the Bacolod Airport . She said only seven porters, who are members of the Bacolod Skycap Multi-Purpose Cooperative, have been hired in the new airport in Silay.

Cuyno said she is hopeful that Silay Mayor Jose Montelibano will give her sons a chance to be hired in the new airport since her late husband was the Mayor's favorite porter. She said one of her sons, Reny, who was former president of the BSMC, has two children in school and needs to work in order to buy his medicines.*CGS

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