Informal settlers along the entrance of the Iloilo Airport in Cabatuan-Sta. Barbara are facing demolition soon after Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor instructed the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines-Iloilo (CAAP-Iloilo) through Air Manager Efren Nagrama to immediately remove them.

CAAP owns six meters of both sides of the road going to the airport

"If possible, CAAP should not allow informal settlers to occupy their right of way so that they will not have problems with them when they need the space in the future," Defensor said yesterday.

He added the Municipality of Sta. Barbara will pass an ordinance disallowing illegal structures from occupying the right of way of government-owned lands, particularly along the highways.

He added that they plan to put up a service road for farmers who have farms near the airport so they need not go inside the facility, but that would depend on availability of funds.

"The service road will serve as their right-of-way in going to their farms without passing inside the airport; this is part of the facility's security measures," Defensor said.

Presently, there are 10 illegal structures occupying the vacant space outside the airport. They are sari-sari stores, houses, bars and restaurants.

SECURITY

Meanwhile, CAAP-Iloilo assures passengers of security because of their four X-ray machines, three K-9 or sniffing dogs that roam around to detect explosives and illegal drugs.

Nagrama said, so far, no major incidents happened inside the airport's premises. "We have enough security personnel to secure the area including passengers, aircrafts and vital airport installations," he said.*