Deputy House Speaker for Mindanao Congresswoman Maria Isabelle Climaco is personally pushing for the transfer of the
Zamboanga International Airport (ZIA) in the populous center of the city to a less populated new site near the shorelines at Mercedes-Talabaan barangays in the east coast of the city.
The ZIA does not have adequate security, because its front area for cars and airport visitors does not have a perimeter fence of wires or concrete walls.
Stores doing business at the open area in front of the Airport building are not enclosed within the facility.
People, including those responsible for the explosion at the airport that killed two people and wounded others in the evening of August 5, did not have to pass through checkpoints or gates to the airport premises.
Some families are also claiming ownership of the property dating back to the times when the American Occupation forces of World War II, constructed the runway of its air force.
The runway - now modernized - stayed where it was and is now used by the Philippine Air Force and the airport.
Climaco, of the first congressional district of Zamboanga City said moves for the transfer can be possible because the Department of Transportation and Communication (PNA)- has already completed a feasibility study on the transfer.
The proposed new airport is estimated to cost about P9.8 billion. The current airport located between barangays Canelar and Sta. Maria has been servicing international flights but only as far as Sabah , Malaysia.
It occupies a 232 hectare area of prime commercial property.
Earlier, Zamboanga Airport Manager Celso Bayabos told the Philippines News Agency (PNA) that the area occupied by the present airport could be sold for over P8 billion and that the money can be used to construct the new airport.
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