CABATUAN SITE OF NIADP Cabatuan will be the site of the estimated Yen 17,322 M (equivalent to PhP 6,186 M) New Iloilo Airport Development Project. The financing of the project includes a JBIC special Yen loan of Yen 14,724 M (equivalent to PhP 5,259 M) covering 85% of the estimated total cost. The government share of the budget is Yen 2,598 M (equivalent to PhP 928 M) Major scopes of the project are earthwork and site preparation of approximately 200 hectar airport property; construction of 2,500 m-long runway with necessary navigational aids; construction of passenger terminal buildings with road and carpark; construction of control tower, fire station, operation, administration and maintenance buildings; construction of utilities complex; and construction of cargo terminal and fuel farm (for the use of concessionaires) Land acquisition shall have been completed by this year. Construction of the NIADP will commence early 2003 and the new airport is expected to open by the middle of 2005. Two possible connections with airport terminal area are considered: from Sta. Barbara Diversion Road and from National road near Brgy. Tiring. Republic of the Philippines Department of Transportation and Communications Project Management Office New Iloilo Airport Development Project The connection from Sta. Barbara Diversion Road is suitable for airport access because current traffic density is still low and no houses exist offering shorter, faster and safer access to the city of Iloilo. Another proposed access road is from national road near Brgy. Tiring. Houses and considerable volume of vehicle traffic already exist around Brgy. Tiring and additional airport access traffic which is approximately 2,000 during peak hours, equivalent to 80% of the capacity of the two-way road (2,500) would result in heavy congestion and more risk of traffic accidents. Easterly alignment connecting with the Sta. Barbara Diversion Road is strongly recommended. Town to sponsor scholarship program For the first time, the Municipality of Cabatuan will sponsor a scholarship program for the poor but deserving secondary students of the town. Five students from each of the four curriculum years of Cabatuan National Comprehensive High School or a total of 20 students will become municipal scholars this coming school year 2002­2003. Two students from each of the four curriculum years from other national high schools in the town will also become municipal scholars. Eight students from Tiring National High School of Brgy. Tiring; 8 from Mateo National High School, Brgy. Manguna; 8 from Ambrosio Maido National High School, Brgy. Jelicuon Montinola; 8 from Wenceslao Grio National High School, Brgy. Puyas; and 8 from Acao National High School, Brgy. Acao or a total of 40 scholars from five national high schools in the town will be chosen. The benefits will include P1,500 per student every year and a medal for each scholar to be awarded during the recognition ceremonies, Candidates from CNCHS must belong to the top 10 (arranged according to rank) of the curriculum year as pre-qualified and certified by the school head. Candidates from other national high schools of the town must belong to the top 5 (arranged according to rank) of the curriculum year as pre-qualified and certified by the school head. The parents of the candidates must have a combined gross annual income of not more than P72,000. A candidate must not enjoy or avail any other scholarship grant. A candidate must also be of a good moral character. The scholarship is non-transferable to any other school. The scholar must maintain a final general average of 85%. or higher with no ratings below 80% in any grading period. The Screening Committee. of the Municipal Scholarship Program is headed by S.B. Valentin Sujede, chairman and SB, Wilfredo Jiloca as co­chairman. Other members of the committee are Mrs. Rosario M. Reyes, Mrs. Desideria S. Bermejo and Engr. Jose Norman R. Umadhay. The committee shall evaluate the candidates based on the documents presented. The selection shall become final upon approval of the Municipal Mayor, Ramon C. Yee the GLOW april 2002 7