Bacolod Silay Airport Gets Ready for International Flights

The Bacolod-Silay Airport in Negros Occidental is a few steps closer to hosting a regular stream of international flights after recent efforts to install a Customs, Immigration, and Quarantine system nears completion. 
Copyright Photo: Bacolodmyhome Facebook
Tourism leaders and local politicians began lobbying government last year to install immigration facilities at the airport to help boost tourism and direct flight connections after the airport faced challenges welcoming chartered flights from Korea. Congressman Evelio Leonardia and Western Visayas Tourism Council President John Orola have been spearheading the efforts to ensure that the province's main gateway is ready for international flights. 
According to Leonardia, seventeen chartered flights from Incheon, Korea were expected this year alone beginning in December 2013. Bacolod is a popular golfing destination for South Korean tourists. Orola submitted a letter to Cabinet Secretary Jose Almendras months ago requesting the immediate procurement and installation of Passport Reading Equipment, the assignment of Immigration personnel, and the preparation of physical facilities at the airport for international arrivals and departures.
According to Orola, airlines and tour operators cannot begin organizing travel itineraries or flights to the province unless the system is installed at the airport first. The province is not only expecting tourists from South Korea but is also anticipating tourists from Singapore and Hong Kong as direct links are built. Last year, Lance Gokongwei, President of Cebu Pacific, expressed interest in testing a direct Bacolod to Hong Kong route. 
Bacolod-Silay Airport sits at the top of the list of top ten cities in the Philippines that should be given priority for the facilitation of direct flights as directed by President Aquino. Most recently, Bacolod City Mayor Monico Puentevella obtained the commitment of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines to extend the Bacolod-Silay Airport runway by an additional one hundred metres. 
When the Customs, Immigration, and Quarantine system are fully completed at Bacolod-Silay airport, Leonardia says that the airport will finally be ready to host international flights. One of the most important functions of the CIQ system is to screen the backgrounds of arriving tourists to prevent entry of undesirable individuals.
Meanwhile, Helen Catalbas, Regional Director for Tourism, said that while tourism in the province of Negros Occidental is growing, only a fourth of the province's attractions are being actively tapped. She added that the opening of the Bacolod-Silay airport to chartered and regularly scheduled international flights will help a lot in drawing foreign tourists to the region. 

9 comments:

  1. Aside from your article, leonardia and puentebella should stop their bickering and show maturity. But it seems this is asking too much from this two?

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  2. Really hope that it can happen soon as I fly to Bacolod every 3 months from Singapore. Presently I have to transit at Manila or Cebu for a domestic flight.

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  3. Is bacolod silay airport is open now for international flight?

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  4. I wish SG to Bacolod will be open soon even just once a week. We are left behind by Iloilo now.

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    1. Soon you will have, don't be pity about the international flight of Iloilo. Western Visayas is so blessed because soon we have 2 fully functional International flights (Iloilo and Bacolod)

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  5. Still? No international flight from silay airport?

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    1. There is but very few some flies to Davao, Mactan and Puerto Princessa if I am not mistaken because I have been to this airport many times.

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  6. Is there international flights to other countries in the current bacolod-silay airport or not yet but are they planning to?

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