Roxas City airport upgrade gains momentum

By Felipe V. Celino

ROXAS CITY, Capiz — The Roxas City Airport is undergoing a major redevelopment and expansion aimed at easing passenger congestion and modernizing facilities.

Capiz 1st District Rep. Howard Guintu said in a media interview Tuesday, July 7, that the rehabilitation and expansion have an allocated budget of more than PHP 420 million to improve both airside and landside operations and accommodate growing tourist and business travel in Capiz.

He said the comprehensive modernization plan includes specific structural and operational upgrades.

Guintu sought the budget for the airport’s redevelopment with the support of Roxas City Mayor Ronnie Dadivas.

The passenger terminal area has an allocation of PHP 160 million for expanding the arrival and departure terminals, adding seats, and improving overall passenger flow.

He added that the new Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines control tower is under construction to replace the 40-year-old facility and resolve safety and visibility issues.

The runway is undergoing a Phase 2 asphalt overlay worth PHP 160 million, while the airport apron is being expanded to handle more aircraft movement safely.

While not part of the current immediate expansion, Guintu is advocating for the future installation of passenger boarding tubes to improve the experience of travelers and persons with disabilities.

These airport development projects are being managed by the Department of Transportation, with coordination from the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority to ensure the upgrades align with the province’s tourism goals.

Roxas City Airport is the primary air gateway for Capiz and the “Seafood Capital of the Philippines.”

Located on Panay Island, it sits just 1.4 kilometers — or about a two-minute drive — from downtown Roxas City.

The airport connects the region to major hubs through daily direct flights.

Airlines operating daily direct flights to and from Manila include Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, and Philippines AirAsia.

Because of its strategic location, the airport also serves as a major gateway to the northern municipalities of Iloilo province.

Earlier calls for the airport’s rehabilitation cited passenger congestion, outdated facilities, and the need to improve comfort and capacity at one of Panay Island’s key gateways.