The Roxas airport in Capiz province must undergo upgrade and rehabilitation, Rep. Howard Guintu of Pinuno party-list said.

Guintu mentioned during the budget hearing on the 2025 budget of the Department of Transportation existing deficiencies at Roxas airport and the need for a passenger tube so that travelers would no longer have to walk on the tarmac to the aircraft.

“Kapansin-pansin na ang ating paliparan ay nangangailangan ng rehabilitasyon at improvement ng mga pasilidad na ginagamit ng mga pasahero. Makikita natin na malayo ang kapasidad at quality ng ating paliparan kapag ikumpara sa Iloilo International Airport,” the solon from Capiz lamented.

“Maliit ang kapasidad ng paliparan, luma na ang mga pasilidad, at konti lang ang banyo na magagamit ng mga pasahero. Bukod pa rito, mahirap kapag umuulan, lalo na para sa ating mga PWDs, dahil kailangan pang maglakad sa tarmac paakyat o’kaya palabas ng eroplano,” he said.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) for its part, said Roxas Airport will receive funding for its rehabilitation and improvement as part of its spending plan next year.

“We are giving priority on the control tower. The control tower will have to abandoned, so already have a mobile tower in position that will take over before we start renovating or demolishing the existing. Yun ang priority kasi, it’s for operations. The rest of the facilities we are aware of the deficiencies including the toilets,” said CAAP Director General Manuel Antonio Tamayo.