Negros convention center, airport upgrades to spur jobs

By Glazyl M. Jopson

VICTORIAS CITY, Negros Occidental — The third legislative district of Negros Occidental is expected to receive a major economic boost through the proposed PHP 1-billion Negros Occidental Convention Center and the expansion and upgrade of the Bacolod-Silay Airport in Silay City, which are seen to create more jobs and employment opportunities for graduates of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

The projects were announced by third district Rep. Javier Miguel Benitez during the Metro Third Mass Graduation of 2,065 TESDA graduates held Thursday at the Victorias City Coliseum.

Benitez said the projects will not only generate employment but also attract tourists, increase business opportunities, and encourage more conventions and events in the province.

“This is what Metro Third means — a platform for jobs, families, and generations to come,” he added.

The lawmaker said the planned convention center will have a seating capacity of 6,200 and will host conferences, conventions, cultural events, and visiting guests.

Benitez also shared plans to improve the Bacolod-Silay Airport to accommodate more flights, including possible international routes, which are expected to bring more tourists and investments into the province, particularly the third district.

He noted that neighboring regions such as Western Visayas and Central Visayas already have international flights, adding that it is time for Negros Occidental to have the same opportunity.

“This is the time for Negros,” he said.

Benitez said the needed upgrades include extending the runway by 500 meters, expanding the terminal, and putting up customs and immigration facilities to support international operations.

He said congressional leaders are working together to begin the projects in 2026 and 2027, with the convention center targeted for completion by late 2027 or early 2028.

According to Benitez, House leaders have already given a verbal commitment for the convention center project, while the Department of Transportation has also committed support for airport improvements next year.

“These are all for our TESDA graduates,” Benitez said, while also praising TESDA for securing its largest budget in history, with PHP 19 billion allocated for technical-vocational training.

“TESDA graduates are not just graduates. You are builders of homes, providers of food on the table, and contributors to stronger communities that will bring the third district to a brighter future,” Benitez said in his message, as he lauded the graduates for their achievements.

TESDA-Negros Island Region Director Niña Connie Dodd confirmed that the graduates completed the Special Training for Employment Program, a TESDA-initiated community-based program that provides free short-term and specialized vocational training.

The graduates include 275 from E.B. Magalona, 273 from Murcia, 275 from Silay City, 444 from Talisay City, and 1,000 from Victorias City, with certifications in cookery, shielded metal arc welding, plant crops leading to agricultural production, organic agriculture production, animal production, carpentry, and masonry.

The graduates were also provided with tools after the graduation ceremony.

The training centers were Master Global Education and Livelihood Inc., MBA Forest Technical School Inc., MDM Sagay College Inc., and Philippine Organized Workforce for Economic Recovery Foundation, or Power Foundation Inc.

Benitez acknowledged the graduates’ struggles and sacrifices, emphasizing that while material possessions can be lost, skills and knowledge remain forever.

“You now have greater confidence in yourselves because you have the tools and certifications,” he said.

“Skills cannot be taken away. They will help feed families, build homes, support communities, and secure your future.”

Benitez added that the graduation marks a new beginning for 2,065 families and lives now filled with renewed hope and direction.

In a video message, TESDA Director General Jose Francisco Benitez congratulated the graduates, as he acknowledged their sacrifices, financial challenges, and exhaustion in their journey.

“You have not just earned a certificate, but a passport to employment and entrepreneurial opportunities. This achievement did not come easy, behind the certificate is sacrifices, late nights, early mornings, balancing families and responsibilities, and doubt, but you pushed it through, you showed up, and finished,” he said.

The TESDA director general told the graduates that this is not the end but the beginning of lifelong learning.

It is not just one training but continuous upskilling and reskilling.

“As you move forward, wear your success with pride, proven dedication, and support that anything is possible because your skills and grit are the backbone of the country,” he said.

Meanwhile, E.B. Magalona Mayor Matthew Louis Malacon, Silay City Mayor Joedith Gallego, Murcia Vice Mayor Johnny Reosura, representing Mayor Gerry Rojas, Talisay City Councilor Martin Gerard Lizares, representing Mayor Rowena Lizares, and Victorias City Vice Mayor Derek Palanca, representing Mayor Abelardo Bantug III, expressed their support and gratitude to TESDA for providing employment opportunities to their constituents and said they hoped for continued partnerships to produce more graduates.