Negros Occidental Lawmakers Push Airport, Road, Power Projects

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY – Newly elected lawmakers in Negros Occidental plan to prioritize the construction of an airport, expanded road networks, and new power sources in their congressional districts.

Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer, who won the 4th District congressional seat, said he will push for a wind power project along the coast of Valladolid town.

He is also considering tapping La Carlota City’s water source to establish a hydropower plant.

“This would mean cheaper electricity for us here in Negros,” Ferrer said.

Ferrer defeated former Department of Public Works and Highways regional director Lea Delfinado in a one-on-one race for the post vacated by his wife, Rep. Juliet Ferrer, who is on her final term.

He won with 130,023 votes, leading Delfinado by 57,520 votes; she garnered 72,503.

Reelected 6th District Rep. Mercedes Alvarez is pushing for the completion of the Kabankalan City Domestic Airport.

She said the project is vital for economic growth and tourism, especially in southern Negros Occidental.

Alvarez said she filed House Bill 2771, which seeks to formally establish the Kabankalan airport, and is pursuing more funds to complete its construction.

The airport in Barangay Hilamonan, Kabankalan City, is expected to include passenger and cargo terminals, a control tower, loading areas, and navigation systems, with an initial runway spanning more than 1,300 meters.

She expressed hope that the House Committee on Transportation will take up the bill in the 20th Congress.

Alvarez defeated former Hinoba-an Mayor Ernesto Estrao.

She said she won in all 111 barangays in the 6th District and secured 180,200 votes, while Estrao received 33,965.

Also advocating for an airport is 1st District Rep. Jules Ledesma.

Ledesma, a returning lawmaker, said his family donated 50 hectares of land to the San Carlos City government for the proposed airport site in 1998, during his first term in Congress.

He said a master plan was developed in Singapore, but the project stalled due to inaction from subsequent administrations.

Ledesma said all required documents and permits from the Air Transportation Office and Civil Aeronautics Board have been completed.

He previously served as 1st District congressman for 18 years before stepping away from politics after marrying actress Assunta de Rossi, with whom he has a daughter.

He told reporters he held talks and informal negotiations with the Department of Transportation before formally disclosing plans to revive the project in the 20th Congress.

Ledesma won with 157,328 votes against Erie Mahinay of Partido Lakas ng Masa, who garnered 7,819.

Meanwhile, reelected 5th District Rep. Emilio Bernardino Yulo and 2nd District Rep. Alfredo Marañon III said they will focus on linking former insurgency-affected barangays through infrastructure and opening common corridors between Negros Occidental and Oriental.

Yulo said tourism development is a priority in the 5th District under the newly established Negros Island Region, citing its significant potential.

He said Isabela, La Castellana, Moises Padilla, Binalbagan, and Himamaylan City all border six towns in Negros Oriental’s 2nd District.

Except for Hinigaran, many hinterland areas in Moises Padilla, Himamaylan City, Isabela, Binalbagan, and La Castellana were formerly insurgency-affected.

Before the campaign period, Yulo and Negros Oriental 1st District Rep.-elect Emmanuel Iway pledged to work together on opening shared access routes in the hinterlands of La Libertad and Jimalalud, as well as Binalbagan, Isabela, and Himamaylan City.

Yulo received 201,033 votes, defeating Provincial Board Member Anton Occeño of Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, who garnered 36,406.

Marañon, who ran unopposed, said he has begun connecting all mountain barangays in the 2nd District with road-concreting projects, including Divina Colonia to VF Gustilo and Puey in Sagay City and Celestino Villacin in Cadiz City.

He said this will ease the transport of goods and people from remote areas to town centers.

In his first term, Marañon said he facilitated more than PHP500 million worth of infrastructure projects in the 2nd District, primarily road networks in the hinterlands that serve as alternate routes to northern Negros Occidental.