Posted by: scrimgeour | November 9, 2009

Waste-to-energy project proposed in Iloilo

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

BusinessWorld/Weekender section/October 30, 2009

http://beta.bworldonline.com/weekender/content.php?id=566

ILOILO CITY — A Filipino-Korean consortium is offering solid waste-to-energy technology to the Iloilo city government to address its garbage disposal problems.

The consortium, composed of South Korea’s Taewoong Energy and Environment Engineering Co. Ltd. and Petroxy Philippine Power Corp., presented its proposal to the Iloilo City Solid Waste Management Board last week.

Noel Z. Hechanova, city environment and natural resources officer, said Taewoong President Heung-Pyo Lee and Petroxy business development director Neil Javier-Agustin made the presentation.

Mr. Hechanova said the consortium will use the stoker incinerator technology to burn solid wastes dumped at Brgy. Calajunan, Mandurriao and produce electricity.

The project can burn 200 metric tons of garbage daily and generate an estimated four megawatts daily aside from carbon credits under the Kyoto Protocol, Mr. Hechanova said.

Iloilo City generates some 170 metric tons of garbage, which are dumped daily at the Calajunan dump site.

Mr. Hechanova said the waste management board’s technical working group is studying the consortium’s proposal.

Helen G. Sotomil, member of the technical working group, said the consortium offered to conduct a feasibility study on the project.

If the city government accepts the proposal, the Koreans will offer a soft loan through the Korea Export Import Bank.

The loan, which will be used for the purchasing of machineries and emission technology, has an interest rate of less than 1% annually and is payable in 20 years, with a grace period of 10 years.

Ms. Sotomil said the consortium assured that the technology complies with Republic Act 8749 or the Clean Air Act of 1999, particularly the standards on carbon dioxide and particulate emissions.

“The Koreans are also operating the same project in Baguio City and Boracay Island aside from Korea and Southeast Asian countries. If approved, the project will be located within the Calajunan dump site,” Ms. Sotomil said.

She added that towns adjacent to Iloilo City can then dump their garbage at Calajunan if the waste-to-energy project pushes through.

Iloilo City has an existing agreement with Holcim Cement Corp. to send plastic wastes to fuel the firm’s plant in Lugait, Misamis Oriental.

The agreement aims to help Iloilo City convert the dump into a sanitary landfill in compliance with Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act.

Posted by: scrimgeour | October 26, 2009

Power Consortium inks MOA with energy supplier

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

A CONSORTIUM of electric cooperatives in Panay Island will begin negotiations with an independent power producer to purchase electricity from a 164-megawatt coal-fired power plant based in Iloilo City.

The negotiation kicked off with the signing of a memorandum of agreement between the Panay Power Supply Consortium (PPSC) and Panay Energy Development Corporation (PEDC).

PEDC, a subsidiary of Global Business Power Corp. (GBPC) under the Metrobank group, will operate the coal-fired power plant being constructed at Brgy. Ingore in LaPaz, Iloilo City.

The PPSC is composed of Aklan Electric Cooperative, Antique Electric Cooperative, Capiz Electric Cooperative and Iloilo Electric Cooperatives (Ileco) 1, 2 and 3.

The negotiation is seen to culminate in a 25-year electric power purchase agreement (EPPA) between PEDC and PPSC member cooperatives.

Adrian Moncada, GBPC assistant vice president for commercial operations, said once they have concluded the negotiations, the EPPA will be submitted to the Energy Regulatory Commission for approval.

The PPSC was conceptualized in 2008 to address the worsening electricity shortage in Panay.

The looming expiration of the cooperatives’ power supply contracts with the National Power Corp., which is presently being privatized, in 2010 also prompted PPSC to look for potential suppliers.

The coal-fired power plant is expected to be operational in the last quarter of 2010. It is composed of two units each with a capacity to generate 82MW. The plant has a net production of 144MW

Engr. Wilfred Billena, Ileco 1 general manager and PPSC president, said they bidded out a total of 72MW for their power requirements starting 2011.

A total of 36MW was awarded to two renewable energy companies – Global Green Power and Asea One – while the remaining 36MW was awarded to GBPC.

GBPC has set aside 72MW, or 75% of the coal-fired power plant’s net generation for Iloilo City’s electricity needs.

The remaining 36MW of the coal plant will be allocated to 5 electric cooperatives in Negros Occidental and Oriental.

Engr. Gil Altamira, GBPC commercial operations manager, said their price per kilowatt-hour will be lower than the ERC-approved rate of P4.30/kWh in the EPPA between Central Negros Cooperative (Ceneco) and Korean Electric Power Corp., (Kepco) which will also operate a coal-fired power plant in Cebu.

“We will try to reduce our price from that of the Ceneco-Kepco deal. The advantage of the GBPC-PEDC plant is that it is embedded in Panay Island which could save us from additional transmission cost,” Altamira said.

Billena said their contract with GBPC and other suppliers might not be enough because of their unpredictable consumer growth.

“Our consumption is pegged at 30MW but sometimes we are surprised because we hit 32MW on certain days. The supply instability in the Visayas grid makes it hard for us to predict our growth. When these new capacities operate, we expect our connections to increase. Apparently, the supply that we are about to contract might not be enough,” Billena said.

Billena said an embedded power plant in Panay is advantageous compared to sources outside the island because it is “more stable and cooperatives here will be given priority.

Posted by: scrimgeour | September 28, 2009

Maynilad, Manila Water lead bidders for Iloilo supply project

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

http://www.bworldonline.com/BW092909/content.php?id=046

ILOILO CITY — Five bulk water suppliers have been accredited to join a bidding next month for the bulk water supply contract of Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD).

The utility wants to contract some 20,000 cubic meters of water to serve part of its 31,000 consumers in Iloilo City and neighboring towns and address a supply shortfall caused by system losses and pilferages.

Adrian N. Moncada, a member of the MIWD board of directors, said five suppliers that intend to join the bidding are Maynilad Water Services Inc., Manila Water Co., Rio Verde Water Consortium, Inc., Abejo Builders Corp., and Solerex Water Technologies, Inc.

These companies have submitted pre-bidding requirements to the MIWD. They must satisfy three prerequisites to win the contract — quality, quantity and pressure.

The bulk water supply deal will require the winning bidder to look for sources and establish supply, and connect to the MIWD’s four injection points in Jaro, Iloilo City and the towns of Leganes, San Miguel and Pavia. Each injection point has corresponding volume capacities of — Jaro, 5,000 cubic meters (cu. m.); Leganes, 2,000 cu. m.; San Miguel, 3,000 cu. m.; and Pavia, 10,000 cu. m.

The bidders must specify in their tenders the price per cubic meter and the injection point where they intend to transmit water supply.

“The bid price must not exceed the approved budget for construction of P15 per cubic meter which is stipulated in the terms of reference of the bidding,” Mr. Moncada said. The MIWD charges P15.90 for the first 10 cu. m. consumed by its clients.

Celso G. Javelosa, MIWD board chairman, said the utility might award separate supply contracts to two to three bidders.

“The presence of three suppliers will also allow competition to kick in which will redound to affordable water rates,” Mr. Javelosa said on the sidelines of the MIWD board meeting last week.

When asked if the bulk water supply contract would hike rates, Mr. Javelosa said charges to consumers won’t go up, especially if non-revenue water (water lost to pilferage and leakages) is reduced from the current level of 42%.

The MIWD produces some 45,000 cu.m. of water from surface and underground sources, Mr. Javelosa said. But actual volume distributed reaches only 26,100 cu.m. because of system losses and pilferages.

Mr. Moncada said the additional 20,000-cu.m. supply from bulk contractors would serve an additional 23% of the total number of consumers. “In the next four to six months, fresh water supply will be available from the winning bidders,” he added.

Some 74% or 23,000 MIWD consumers are based in Iloilo City while others are in the towns of Pavia, Sta. Barbara, Cabatuan, Maasin, San Miguel and Oton.

Warren D. Palermo, MIWD operations chief, said the water firm produces 45,000 cu.m. of water a day, but 42% is considered non-revenue water due to technical and physical losses.

Mr. Palermo said physical losses are brought about by faulty lines not yet rehabilitated, while technical losses come from faulty water meters. Pilferages also contribute to losses.

The utility has rehabilitated almost all systems except at Lapuz in Iloilo City.

Mr. Palermo said the utility has yet to restore 100% of the system’s pressure before Typhoon Frank hit last year because of changes in the water flow from the Maasin watershed. Heavy siltation at the MIWD treatment plant in Sta. Barbara town also affected water quality.

Aside from the bulk water, Mr. Moncada said the utility was looking for surface water sources to augment their supply.

Mr. Moncada said the MIWD’s ground well sources in San Miguel and Oton are drying up.

A recent study by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) showed salt water intrusion in the aquifers of Oton. Also, the replenishment rate of aquifers in San Miguel has slowed down, resulting in lower water production.

Mr. Moncada said the utility was also considering the P15-billion Jalaur River Multi-Purpose Project of the National Irrigation Administration as another source.

Mr. Moncada said the project had allocated some 80,000 cu m of water to MIWD which can sustain the water firm’s requirements for the next 50 years.

Other potential sources being eyed are the Sibalom River system in southern Iloilo and the Tinagong Dagat lake in the town of Lambunao, Iloilo.

Posted by: scrimgeour | September 22, 2009

International flights soon at the new Iloilo airport

ILOILO CITY — Two commercial airlines plan to launch international flights from the new Iloilo airport, according to the Department of Transportation and Communications.

Transportation Secretary Leandro R. Mendoza announced the plan during the ground-breaking of the P124-million secondary access road to the new airport in Cabatuan-Sta. Barbara area last week. “The Iloilo Airport is now complete. Darating na ang international flights [There will be international flights soon].”

He said Cebu Pacific plans to launch its Iloilo-Hong Kong flights while Korean Airlines will mount the South Korea-Iloilo service. The new airport can accommodate aircraft as large as the Airbus A330.

Mr. Mendoza said President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered the establishment of an international desk that will be manned by Customs, Immigration and quarantine inspectors.

The Regional Project Monitoring Committee of the Regional Development Council for Western Visayas has said the Iloilo airport can generate P280,000 from terminal fee collections daily from international flights.

The airport currently serves 16 outgoing domestic flights daily, with an average volume of 90 passengers per flight.

Two Western Visayas airports already accommodate international flights, namely: Godofredo P. Ramos Airport in Caticlan, Malay, Aklan and the Kalibo International Airport. — FAL Angelo

http://www.bworldonline.com/BW092209/content.php?id=055

Posted by: scrimgeour | September 7, 2009

BPO industry bullish on Iloilo

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

MORE investments and manpower training are needed to make Iloilo an investment hub for business process outsourcing (BPO), according to the Business Processing Association of the Philippines (BPAP).

BPAP CEO Oscar R. Sañez said Iloilo should take advantage of its large manpower pool to attract more BPO-information technology jobs.

In a presentation during the Iloilo-Guimaras investment forum in Makati City last week, Sañez said Iloilo is one of BPAP’s Top 10 Next Wave Cities because of low cost of doing business and manpower availability.

Presently, Sañez said there are seven BPO firms employing 4,420 full time employees (FTEs) but this should be increased to more than 20,000 in the coming years.

“Iloilo has an absorptive capacity of 22,300 FTEs while there are only 4,420 actual employees. The utilization rate is only 20%,” he added.

Sañez said the current trend in the BPO industry is that localities that produce more graduates host more IT-BPO jobs.

“Iloilo City has much untapped potential, a large graduate pool and low industry presence. It should have more IT-BPO jobs considering the size of its graduate pool,” Sañez said.

The BPAP presentation showed that while the National Capital Region accounts for 25 percent of the graduating population in the country, it holds 80 percent of the IT-BPO jobs.

Visayas region accounts for 21 percent of all graduates but hosts only 10 percent of the IT-BPO jobs.

Sañez said targeted, focused programs can help Iloilo accelerate development of the BPO-IT sector. He cited the cities of Hyderabad and Pune in India which offered incentives and infrastructure to locators.

Sañez said the BPAP can also help Iloilo and other areas train their talent pool to sustain the growth of the industry.

“We have programs that aim to deliver 290,000 to 560,000 incremental qualified workers to the industry from 2008 to 2010. Right now, we are more than 50% ahead of the baseline requirement,” he added.

Posted by: scrimgeour | August 27, 2009

Easy access to bank loans for micro, small, medium businesses

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

MICRO, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) will have easy access to bank loans sans collateral with the establishment of the Iloilo City Coopreneurs Surety Fund (ICCSF).

The ICCSF is the first credit surety fund (CSF) established by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) in an urban center. In the entire country, ICCSF is the seventh CSF established after the provinces of Cavite, Aurora, Bohol, Negros Oriental, Compostela Valley and Davao del Norte.

BSP Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo and Monetary Board Member Juanita Amatong led the launching and signing of the memorandum agreement on the ICCSF on Tuesday in Iloilo City.

The CSF is a fund generated from contributions by well-capitalized and well-managed cooperatives with counterpart funding from the concerned local government unit and other donor agencies.

Mr. Guinigundo said the launching of the ICCSF aims to help MSMEs access bank loans without burdening them with collaterals.

“MSMEs still struggle to find access to lending facility because of lack of collateral, unstable income and lack of trace record. Some 60% of MSMEs’ credit needs are unserved and their growth is under utilized. The CSF aims to pave the way for these enterprises borrow from lending institutions,” Mr. Guinigundo said.

Mr. Guinigundo said the CSF will provide surety cover to MSMEs who want to borrow money from banks and other lending institutions. The surety cover will be issued by the ICCSF in favor of the creditor bank.

The fund contributors of the ICCSF are 11 Iloilo City-based cooperatives that will pitch a total of P1.6million.

The Iloilo City government will provide counterpart funding of P2million while the Industrial Guarantee and Loan Fund will provide P5million.

The Land Bank of the Philippines and Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) will also contribute to the CSF.

Banks that will extend loans secured by the CSF can rediscount up to 80% of such loans with the BSP.

The fund will be administered by an oversight committee composed of 12 representatives of CSF contributors. The committee will assign a trustee bank as administrator of the fund.

The fund shall be invested in safe and high-yielding instruments such as government securities.

Mr. Guinigundo said the BSP will monitor the operation of the CSF and its working environment aside from providing technical training in screening borrowers.

DBP CEO and President Reynaldo David said that aside from contributing to the fund, DBP is also on the process of simplifying loan processes for cooperatives and MSMEs backed by the CSF.

“Some banks sometimes require MSMEs and cooperatives voluminous paper works. Half way through filling up these documents, the business owner gets tired and gives up. The streamlining will result in less paper works,” Mr. David added.

Mr. David said DBP will also train ICCSF stakeholders assess the credit worthiness of borrowers who seek coverage from the CSF.

Iloilo City Vice Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said the establishment of the ICCSF is timely as it will help entrepreneurs affected by typhoon Frank last year and the global financial crisis.

Posted by: scrimgeour | August 24, 2009

Iloilo achieves business-friendly status

ILOILO HAS JOINED San Fernando as the second city to attain business-friendly status under a governance program administered by the Institute of Solidarity in Asia (ISA).

ISA Executive Director Christopher P. Zaens said in a forum yesterday that Iloilo had completed the last of the governance program’s four stages.

San Fernando was earlier this month announced as the first local government unit (LGU) to attain business-friendly status under the program, which has been administered by the ISA since 2005.

Mr. Zaens noted that 34 local government units (LGU) had voluntarily joined the program, whose four stages are: the crafting of a road map by the LGU; development of a score card and its inclusion in the LGU’s planning and budgeting; implementation and monitoring of progress; and the achievement of breakthrough results.

The Western Visayas city, he said, was able to increase its income through improved tax collections and streamlined business registration processes.

From P825.890 million in 2005, Iloilo’s income rose to P917.439 million in 2006; P999.228 million in 2007; and P1.159 billion in 2008.

“We conducted consultations with the business sector and other taxpayers before implementing tax policies and tax increases to make sure that it will be acceptable to them,” Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Trenas yesterday said.

He claimed the city was able to reduce the time it takes to obtain or renew a business license to one day, from seven days previously, through the establishment of a one-stop shop.

The gains, said Mr. Zaens, has started attracting investors, particularly those in the information communication technology sector. The number of business process outsourcing companies in the city rose to 12 last year from zero in 2005.

“Having completed the four stages and implementing changes, the city is now seen as a more attractive destination for investments and businesses,” he said.

http://www.bworldonline.com/BW082509/content.php?id=005

Posted by: scrimgeour | August 10, 2009

New International Airport to rise in RP tourism triangle

Carabao Island (Photo courtesy of vincevillena.blogspot.com)

Carabao Island (Photo courtesy of vincevillena.blogspot.com)

A COUPLE OF years from now a new international airport that is seen to further boost tourism not only in Boracay but also in the other destinations will rise in the heart of the Philippines or what is now described as the Philippine Tourism Triangle.

The airport, designed to accommodate large capacity, intercontinental planes such as Boeing 747s, is located in Carabao Island in San Jose, Romblon. The airport is just 1.5 nautical miles (or a ten minute ride by pumpboat) north of Boracay Island. In fact, the two islands are visible to each other.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo first took cognizance of the airport project in her 2006 State of the Nation Address. Since then great strides have been taken towards making the airport a reality.

In a recent report to the President, the Aklan-Romblon Properties Corporation, the private firm that is pursuing the project, said the Carabao Island International Airport Project has already entered the design phase. Mr. Delfin Wenceslao, Jr., the firm’s chairman of the board, said they have already fully acquired 120 hectares for the airport site and the entire area has been fenced in and ready for land preparation. Delfin also said the firm is currently selecting from three duly accredited multinational engineering firms to provide detailed drawings. Within 60 to 90 days, the detailed drawings will be submitted to the Department of Transportation and Communications for approval. From there, the firm expects the international airport to be operational within 24 months. Total cost of the project is estimated to reach P6 billions.

Earlier, the municipal council of San Jose, the Provincial Board of Romblon, and the Regional Development Council of Region IV-B (Mimaropa) have all unanimously passed resolutions approving the establishment and operation of an international airport in Carabao Island. Likewise, the DOTC’s Air Transportation Office has also granted locational clearance for the project.

Expanding Boracay’s Horizons

Mr. Esteban Tajanlangit, Jr., vice president of the firm, said the new airport will complement Boracay and Philippine tourism in a big way. One of the first to open up a high end resort (Boracay Terraces) and a major stakeholder in Boracay’s future, Tajanlangit said the new airport will ease access to Boracay by eliminating the costly and tedious travel experienced by foreign and domestic tourists going to Boracay.

Also, the savvy and visionary entrepreneur said the new portal will open up other destinations near Boracay, thus expanding the island’s horizons. Tajanlangit noted that unlike Phuket or Bali which have larger land areas for expansion, Boracay is smaller and almost filled to capacity, if not already.

“We must expand if we want to remain competitive,” Tajanlangit said.

Carabao Island has a land area of some 3,000 hectares of mostly flat terrain. Tajanglangit, who described Carabao Island as “shaped like an aircraft carrier,” said it can become a tourist destination in itself when developed in a way similar to Mactan and Lapu-Lapu Islands in Cebu.

Tourism Triangle

In May 28, 2008, the governors of Batangas, Mindoro Oriental, Mindoro Occidental, Marinduque, Romblon, Antique, Aklan, and Palawan signed a Memorandum of Agreement launching the “Tourism Triangle”. The signing, held on board the 7107 Islands Cruise ship which Tajanlangit operates, was witnessed by top officials of the Department of Tourism and the Department of Transportation and Communications.

Tajanlangit pointed out that the projected Carabao Island international airport is at the heart of this tourism triangle. From this airport, travel time to the islands in Northern Palawan or Mindoro or the Semirara group in Antique, for example, can be counted in just minutes.  Because of poor and inadequate infrastructure, access by air and sea remains one of the most comfortable ways to travel in the Philippines. The new airport affords travelers this convenience, said Tajanlangit, thus encouraging more people to discover the beauty of other island destinations.

Tajanlangit further bared that since last year, the 7107 Islands Cruise ship, the country’s first cruise ship, has been bringing tourists to the various attractions in this tourism triangle – particularly Puerto Galera in Mindoro, the Calamianes group of Islands in Northern Palawan, and Boracay. Thus sparking interest and enthusiasm in other tourists.

At the same time, Tajanlangit disclosed that a tourism explosion is poised to take place in Northern Palawan, with Coron town undertaking infrastructure developments to service tourism. According to Palawan Governor Joel Reyes, several well-established international tourism developers like Banyan Tree and 2 Seasons have already committed to putting up investments in the islands of Palawan.

Another potential Tajanlangit has seen is Tablas Island just four kilometers away from Carabao Island. The place has a natural cove wide enough and deep enough to be ideal for international marina development.  Again, Tajanlangit said, the new international airport can make this prospect viable.

Posted by: scrimgeour | July 1, 2009

Iloilo OK’s perk for new, expanding businesses

BY FRANCIS ALLAN L. ANGELO, Correspondent

ILOILO CITY — The Iloilo City council has approved an incentive for qualified businesses that would exempt them from coverage of the tax on gross receipts.

The amended Iloilo City Investment Incentive Code of 2006 will give 100% exemption from the tax on gross receipts (which, according to www.iloilocity.gov.ph/taxes.php, varies according to type of business) of new and expanding businesses in the first year of operation. In the second year of operation, these businesses are entitled to 75% tax exemption, 50% in the third year and 25% exemption in the fourth year.

The amended investment code said an investor can avail of the incentives if he will invest at least P5 million. Investors with P5-million capital but less than P20 million will enjoy one-year tax exemption. Businesses with a capital of P20 million but less than P40 million will enjoy the incentive for two years. A capital of P40 million but less than P60 million will entitle an investor to three years of this incentive. Businesses with a capital of at least P60 million can avail the incentive for four years.

Councilor Jose S. Espinosa III, who authored the amendments, said the changes were made following an executive order by Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas calling for a review of the code. “The amendments were meant to make the investment code more responsive and attractive to new and expanding businesses amidst the financial crunch. We also want to make Iloilo City an investment site by offering more perks to businesses,” Mr. Espinosa said.

Maria Lea Victoria E. Lara, Iloilo Business Club executive director, said they welcome the expanded tax incentive, saying this should help stimulate the local economy.

Ms. Lara said Bacolod City also offered the same incentives to businesses, “the reason why they are attracting more investors such as BPO [business process outsourcing] players.”

Mr. Espinosa said other cities such as Cebu, Davao and Bacolod are giving 100% tax holiday for three to five years.

Councilor Antonio V. Pesina, Jr., committee on ways and means chairman, said he opposed the amendments due to their impact on revenues. Mr. Pesina said he was pushing for 75% tax exemption in the first year of operation instead of 100% exemption.

“The exemptions might affect revenue generation because taxes on gross receipts amount to hundreds of millions of pesos. We also need money for social services and other economic programs,” Mr. Pesina said.

But city treasurer Katherine T. Tingson said “businesses will still pay the usual regulatory fees for permits and licenses.”

Meanwhile, Vice-Mayor Jed E. Patrick Mabilog has proposed an ordinance that will condone the liabilities of delinquent real property taxpayers. The measure will cover all real property taxes delinquencies recorded in the City Treasurer’s Office. It will grant 100% condonation on interest, penalties and surcharges on real property that has fallen behind in tax payments.

The condonation, however, will not apply to delinquent owners of real properties disposed in public auctions, real properties subject to pending court cases, and real properties with existing compromise deals.

Mr. Mabilog said the proposed ordinance aims to ease the financial burden of property owners in the city amid current economic difficulties, and aims to help those who have yet to recover from the effects of typhoon “Frank” a year ago.

http://www.bworldonline.com/BW070109/content.php?id=051

Posted by: scrimgeour | July 1, 2009

International flights pushed for Iloilo airport

ILOILO CITY — The Regional Development Council (RDC) in Western Visayas has asked the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) to open Iloilo airport to international flights.

The council made the call in a resolution passed during its regular quarterly meeting recently.

An updated study of the RDC’s Regional Project Monitoring Committee (RPMC) said Iloilo airport, if opened to international flights, will generate P280,000 daily from terminal fees.

Presently, the airport caters to 16 incoming and outgoing flights daily with an average volume of 90 passengers per flight.

The International Civil Aviation Organization has classified the airport as Category F, which means it qualifies for international standards, the council noted.

Kalibo and Caticlan airports are open to international flights because of their proximity to Boracay Island.

The P8.8-billion Iloilo airport is located in the town of Cabatuan, some 19 kilometers from Iloilo City. It was inaugurated on June 13, 2007 and opened to commercial flights the next day.

The airport has a 12,000-square-meter main passenger terminal that can handle around 1.2 million passengers annually.

The airport’s cargo terminal has a floor area of 1,300 square meters and is designed to handle as much as 11,500 metric tons of cargo.

The airport is equipped with a 2.5-kilometer by 45-meter runway, which can accommodate Airbus 330 and 340 and Boeing 747 planes. It can accommodate six such planes at one time.

The council also asked CAAP to allow the airport to retain at least 10% of its terminal fee collections. The airport charges P200 per passenger for the terminal fee.

The retained amount will be used for the maintenance, sanitation and beautification of the passenger terminal building and surrounding grounds.

The request was made in response to complaints of the airport’s poorly maintained restrooms at the passenger terminal and inadequate janitorial services. — F. A. L. Angelo

http://www.bworldonline.com/BW070109/content.php?id=055

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