The city and provincial governments of Iloilo continue to push for the expansion of the congested Iloilo International Airport.

In an interview on Tuesday, Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. said, “I am concerned. It is really about time because it is already congested.”

The Iloilo Provincial Development Council (PDC) Executive Committee chaired by Defensor passed two resolutions during its meeting on Monday, first requesting the Prime Asset Ventures, Inc. (PAVI) to submit all documentary requirements to the Department of Transportation (DOTr) in line with its unsolicited proposal amounting to PHP6.89 billion, and for the DOTr to expedite the evaluation of the proposal.

The governor said the target is to send all resolutions to the DOTr before the end of next month.

Defensor met with DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista last Sept. 29.

“We are about to reach the pre-pandemic level. So we were there to push for the expansion of the terminal of the Iloilo airport,” he said in a previous interview.

Defensor, during his meeting with the DOTr, was informed that PAVI submitted its unsolicited proposal under the government’s Public-Private Partnership (PPP) program in May 2019.

It is currently with the Investment Coordination Committee of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

Defensor added that PAVI was required to submit additional documents based on the implementing rules and regulations of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) Law.

Upon submission, it will be approved by the NEDA Board chaired by the President.

The unsolicited proposal will have to undergo a competitive process.

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas said he will request the Regional Development Council (RDC), where he sits as chairperson of the Infrastructure Development Committee (IDC), to pass another resolution for airport improvement.

He will also ask the Local Development Council and the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) to pass their own resolutions.

In March this year, the city mayor wrote NEDA for the possible inclusion of the airport in the list of priority projects of the national government.

The Iloilo airport serves daily flights to Manila and Cebu and scheduled flights for General Santos, Davao, Puerto Princesa and Clark. (PNA)