Roxas City Airport Expansion to Begin This Year

By Felipe V. Celino

ROXAS CITY – The expansion of Roxas City Airport is set to begin this year, according to Department of Transportation Secretary Vivencio Dizon.

Dizon said the agency is working to visit airports nationwide to personally assess their conditions and infrastructure needs.

He cited Roxas City Airport, along with Siargao Airport, as examples of facilities facing overcrowding issues, especially during flight delays, due to a lack of seating and passenger space.

The planned expansion, with an allocated budget of PHP300 million, will enhance both the departure and arrival areas and upgrade the airport tower, which needs immediate resolution due to safety issues identified by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines–Capiz.

The project is expected to boost tourism in Capiz, promote the province’s branding as the “Seafood Capital of the Philippines,” and highlight its scenic coastal destinations.

Once the contract is finalized, the airport expansion is targeted for completion by the first quarter of 2026.

Meanwhile, Congressman Ivan Howard Guintu of Pinuno Partylist welcomed Dizon’s pledge of support for the redevelopment of Roxas City Airport.

He said it was the same promise previously made by former Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista and aligned with his advocacy to improve critical infrastructure that would promote the growth and development of Roxas City and the entire province of Capiz.

Guintu, who is running for congressman in the 1st District of Capiz against Paolo Roxas, son of former Sen. Mar Roxas, stressed the importance of fulfilling this commitment.

“While the visit of the good secretary is a welcome development, it is unfortunate that he failed to properly consult stakeholders, particularly those who initiated and openly advocated for the project,” Guintu said.

He recalled raising concerns about the poor state of the airport, which has not undergone a major upgrade since its construction almost 70 years ago.

Time and again, Guintu reiterated the need to improve the airport’s limited passenger waiting capacity and poor restroom facilities.

“It is baffling that the secretary was not informed that Guintu made numerous representations with the Department of Transportation, including during the 2025 national budget deliberations, where a similar commitment was secured from then Secretary Bautista,” a city official who asked not to be named said.

Reports said Guintu also sought funding support from the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, recognizing the airport’s importance to tourism development.

“Why Secretary Dizon failed to acknowledge the calls and representations made by Guintu regarding this important advocacy remains puzzling to the partylist representative,” the same official said.

“Unless it is the intention of the secretary to disregard the efforts of a sitting House member and discount Guintu’s advocacy to assist the DOTr in improving airport facilities, which we hope is not the case,” the official added.

“Guintu understands the complexity of a Transportation Secretary’s job, which involves addressing not just airport issues but all initiatives related to mobility,” the city official said.

“However, it is proper that stakeholders expect thorough consultation, one that involves all concerned parties,” the official added.

He emphasized that the brief visit by Secretary Dizon should not define his commitment to redevelop the facility or disappear as quickly as the sound of thunder.

“More importantly, it should not serve as propaganda to promote a person who has long shown no concern for the airport’s development until this visit by the Transportation Secretary,” the same official said.