By Perla Lena/PNA
ILOILO CITY — House of Representatives Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo visited what she called her “favorite projects” in Iloilo, following her engagement in Negros Occidental on Friday.
Arroyo attended the anniversary of the Bacolod-Silay airport in Negros Occidental, considered as the twin airport of the Iloilo International Airport. The two projects were constructed simultaneously when she was still president.
“It’s good to come back to my favorite projects because they don’t stand still because of the big improvement in the economy that comes after the airport, and the airport has become too small,” she said.
Arroyo said the Bacolod-Silay airport that was built 11 years ago “provided impetus to the economy of Negros but now it’s too small and the Director General of CAAP (Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines) said that they will expand Silay airport.”
She was also informed that the Iloilo airport needs at least two more tubes, as relayed to her by Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor, Iloilo City Lone District Rep. Jerry P. Treñas, and the business sector. “We will find out from CAAP what are their plans,” she said.
Arroyo arrived using the roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) vessel from Negros Occidental that docked at the town of Dumangas. The nautical highway was established during her presidency.
She lamented that some of her projects that were supposed to be sustained were “discontinued.”
“Congressman Cesar Sarmiento is convening an oversight committee meeting on January 23 so that together with the PPA (Philippine Ports Authority) and the DOTr (Department of Transportation), we can review the original ADB (Asian Development Bank) study that we used to build the nautical highway and then compare that with projects that were cancelled by the previous administration,” she said.
With the meeting, she hoped that they could determine what projects to revive and for the House of Representatives to pass the appropriate resolution.
During the visit, Arroyo was met by Iloilo local officials led by Defensor, Treñas, Iloilo 4th District Rep. Ferj Biron, and AAMBIS-OWA Partylist Rep. Sharon Garin
