DOTC upgrades security measures of new airports in Western Visayas

PIA Press Release 2006/11/16

DOTC upgrades security measures of new airports in Western Visayas

Iloilo City (16 November) -- The Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) has upgraded the security measures of the two on-going airport projects in Western Visayas to prevent recurrence of similar attacks as the bombing of the New Bacolod (Silay) Airport of international standard in Negros Occidental last month.

In a press report, Senator Franklin Drilon said that he was informed by Transportation and Communication Secretary Leandro Mendoza of the new security arrangements at the Bacolod airport project in Silay City, Negros Occidental and at the New Iloilo Airport Development Project in Iloilo in his letter dated November 6, 2006.

In his letter, Mendoza said that immediately after the bombing incident, Philippine Army and Philippine National Police units consisting 22 army men and eight policemen were deployed to secure the Bacolod airport project 24-hours a day.

"This kind of arrangement together with the usual internal security measures between the contractor, consultant and the Project Manager Office of the New Bacolod Airport Development Project and other covert activities and undertakings by military and police will stay until the completion of the project", said Mendoza in his letter.

According to Drilon the military and police personnel are being reinforced by the contractor's 18 security guards posted and roving during daytime with additional seven security guards during nighttime.

Also, in his letter, Mendoza reported to Drilon that a group of 50 military and police personnel are currently deployed 24 hours a day to secure the construction site of the New Iloilo Airport Development Project.

The P4.3 billion Bacolod airport project is scheduled for completion in the second quarter of next year while the P6.2 billion Iloilo airport of international standard launched in January 2004 by Drilon along with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is expected to be operational in March 2007.

The completion of these new airport projects is expected to boost economic development in the region. (PIA)



CABATUAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Cabatuan, Iloilo, Philippines

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