Iloilo Airport At A Crossroad

By Charles Lim

So the international flights are returning to Iloilo. Cebu Pacific has announced it will resume direct flights between Iloilo and Hong Kong and Singapore which were disrupted during the pandemic. The air carrier is ready.

The Iloilo International Airport maintains it will schedule flights in a manner that the international flight procedures  will occupy adequate space for customs. immigration and quarantine operations. The airport is still not ready.

In spite of the clamor three years ago for airlines to increase domestic flights to and from Iloilo, and a stronger plea for the return of international flights, absolutely nothing was improved physically.

While some international airports in the country, such as Cebu and Clark, have progressed so impressively with their swanky structures and strong marketing approaches to attract more and more foreign airlines to land there, the Cabatuan airport is contended to serve its international passengers with just two makeshift immigration counters and customs check desks.

Cebu Pacific suspended their international flights during the pandemic. It’s almost two years since our air corridors were re-opened after the COVID 19 lock down, and yet all the dynamic plans for Iloilo’s international gateway to Western Visayas remain, until this day, just a plan.

The National Government reacted to the announcement of the resumption of international flights by revealing it will inject P645 million into improvements and upgrading of the airport. It is not a question of WHEN but WHY, may I ask?

Prior to the announcement of funding for the airport’s improvements, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) declared in May this year that it will decide on the Public – Private Partnership (PPP) by  early 2025. My question is why is the national government spending already with the upgrading of the airport when you are bidding it out to a private operator? Shouldn’t their opinions of the improvements be sought?

Among the bidders to manage the Iloilo International Airport are Prime Asset Ventures, Inc,  Aboitiz InfraCapital, which has successfully designed and operated the Mactan Cebu International Airport, and Megaworld.

It would make credible sense if  DOTr will announce the funds allocated to Iloilo  International Airport will be spent only during the start of the PPP venture with and in consultations the bid winner. History will tell you that governments do a lousy job in designing and running airports.

I believe the confusing perception I have mentioned in this column, stems from the half-baked announcements coming from different  and multiple sources – DOTr, CAAP, etc. Ah, I wish each agency would only have one spokesperson. That will make our task, in journalism,  more pleasant and, in turn, avoid confusing our readers.