Bacolod-Silay City International Airport (Filipino: Paliparang Pandaigdig ng Bacolod-Lungsod ng Silay, Hiligaynon: Internasyonal nga Hulugpaan sang Bacolod-Dakbanwa sang Silay) (IATA: BCD, ICAO: RPVB) is an international airport serving the general area of Bacolod City, the capital city of Negros Occidental in the Philippines. This airport replaced the Bacolod City Domestic Airport located in Bacolod City proper. Bacolod-Silay City International Airport inherited its IATA and ICAO airport codes from the former.
The airport is located fifteen kilometers northeast of Bacolod City on a 181-hectare site in Barangay Bagtic, Silay City. The airport is the third international airport in the Visayas and the second international airport in the Western Visayas region, after Mactan-Cebu International Airport and Iloilo International Airport, and the first international airport built on the island of Negros.
Bacolod-Silay City International Airport is designated as a secondary international airport by the Air Transportation Office, a body of the Department of Transportation and Communications that is responsible for the operations of not only this airport but also of all other airports in the Philippines except the major international airports.
Planning for a new airport in Bacolod City commenced in 1997, when the Japan International Cooperation Agency initiated a study indicating the need for expansion at four Philippine airports: namely Bacolod City Domestic Airport, Mandurriao Airport in Iloilo City, Legazpi Airport in Legazpi City and Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport in Tacloban City.[4] Of the four airports, two have been completed (Iloilo and Bacolod), and two are in planning (Legazpi and Tacloban).
In February 1999, another JICA study was commissioned, this time on the detailed plan of the new airport.[4] The study was completed by March 2000 and was funded by a 430-million yen grant. Immediately after the completion of the study, JICA hired Pacific Consultants International as advisers to the project.[4]
The project was opened for bidding on August 25, 2003, with the winning bid going to the Takenaka-Itochu Joint Venture (TIJV).[4] Physical construction on the new 4.3 billion-peso airport,[3] funded in part by an 8.2-billion yen loan, commenced in August 2004. A 900-day deadline was imposed for the airport to be completed,[4] which broadly corresponds to January 2007.
The airport was complete as of July 16, 2007,[5] although there was considerable debate over whether or not the airport should be opened due to the length of its runway.[5] A 500-meter extension of the runway was planned in order for the airport to accommodate larger aircraft.[5] Depending on the scenario, the airport had a foreseen opening date of November 2007 or sometime in 2010, after the completion of a diversion road leading to the airport.[5]
The first aircraft ever to land at the airport was a small fourteen-seater turboprop owned by Vincent Aviation. The Reims-Cessna F406 with aircraft registration number ZK-VAF, piloted by Steve Gray of New Zealand landed at the airport at 9:55 in the morning of September 26, 2007.[6]
The airport officially opened and began operations on January 18, 2008, and the first commercial flight to arrive was Cebu Pacific's Flight 5J 473 from Manila, an Airbus A319-100 which landed at 5:22am PST on the same day.[7] Fittingly enough, the pilot in command of the aircraft - Captain Allan Garces - was a native of Silay City.[7]
The Bacolod-Silay City International Airport has one primary runway 45 meters (150 ft) wide and 2,000 meters (6,600 ft) long, just a bit longer than its predecessor's. The runway runs in a direction of 03°/21°, and can currently handle aircraft as large as the Airbus A330.[8] Provisions for a 500-meter (1,600 ft) expansion of the present runway in order to accommodate even larger aircraft like the Boeing 747 and the Airbus A340 are also in place.
The airport is equipped with an Instrument Landing System, making it capable of handling night and low-visibility landings.
Passenger terminal
The entire airport complex is designed to handle an excess of one million passengers and 16,715 tons of cargo annually[4] and consists of 21 buildings with a total floor space of 10,075 square meters (108,450 sq ft).[4]
The largest building in the complex is the 6,187-square-meter (66,600 sq ft) main passenger terminal with three levels.[4] The ground floor holds the check-in counters, the public concourse, the arrival area and the information counter. The second floor has the three pre-departure areas with their VIP and CIP lounges; these pre-departure areas lead out to three jet bridges over an apron that can handle up to five aircraft simultaneously. The Air Transportation Office is also on the second floor, as well as the Airport Security holding room, a clinic and a nursery. On the third floor is the viewing deck with a concession area and rooms for maintenance and airport machinery.[8]
The state-of-the art main passenger terminal is equipped with a flight information display system, mechanized baggage handling systems for both inbound and outbound baggage, numerous security X-ray machines, and elevators and escalators.[8] Outside the main terminal is parking for 350 cars.[4]
Airlines
The following airlines serve Bacolod-Silay City International Airport (as of June 2008):
* Air Philippines (Manila)
* Cebu Pacific (Cebu, Manila)
* Philippine Airlines (Manila)
o PAL Express (Cebu)
Google Search
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
New Bacolod-Silay Airport
Monday, May 5, 2008
Visit PuntaBulata - Negros Occidental
Punta Bulata White Beach Resort, a paradise sanctuary, is located in Negros Island, Philippines.
The Philippines is a good place to relax and unwind. Punta Bulata White Beach Resort in Barangay Ilihan, Cauayan, (before Sipalay) Negros Occidental, with its white sand, is one of the finest resorts that are available to serve both local residents and tourists. Welcome!
This Negros resort website is proudly Filipino-made. For more Filipino websites, specifically Negros Occidental resorts, you may wish to visit Tanikalang Ginto ("Golden Chains") and also Pinoy Showcase Philippine Directory.
For inquiries and reservations, pls. contact:
Telefax number: (063 34) 4335160
#22 13th Lacson st.
Bacolod City
Negros Island
Philippines
Or Email us at:
Reservations: Reservations@puntabulata.com
Inqueries: Info@puntabulata.com
Visit Sipalay - Negros Occidental
Sipalay has various natural fascinations that one can see & experience. The 3-hour land trip to the city is truly rewarding as you start exploring the bounties that abound the place.
Beach Resorts
15-minute boat ride from the city proper is the Sugar Beach - German, Swiss and Filipino-owned resorts line this sugary beach, which offers an excellent place for swimming, and various water sports activities.
Not far from the Sugar Beach is the Tinagong Dagat - a hidden sea sprinkled with a dozen islets covered with lush vegetation. The sea bottom is covered with patches of sea grass beds, with the shoreline lined by old-growth mangroves.
Punta Ballo Beach is located in close proximity to Tinagong Dagat- This fine white sandy beach is more than a kilometer stretch. It's the nearest jump off point towards the sea ideal for snorkeling & diving due to the rich marine life.
Going more or less 10 minutes from the Punta Ballo Beach is Campomanes Bay - The bay is excellent not only for diving but for jet skiing, kayaking, and all sorts of water sports. It has an existing port that caters to medium-sized sea craft. The enclosed shape of the bay and islets in its opening provide calm waters even in harsh weather conditions. Entrance to the bay is a wide expanse of coral garden with various species of corals and fish.
Resort Name: Artistic Diving |
Resort Name: Bermuda Beach Resort |
| Resort Name: Driftwood Village Location: Sugar Beach , Brgy. Nauhang, Sipalay City Website: www.driftwood-village.com Email add: info@driftwood-village.com Contact No. : +63 - 920 - 2529474 |
| Resort Name: Takatuka Beach & Dive Resort Location: Sugar Beach , Brgy. Nauhang, Sipalay City Website: www.takatuka-lodge.com Email add: relax@takatuka-lodge.com Contact No. : +63 - 920 - 2309174 |
| Resort Name: Easy Diving Location: Punta Ballo, Sipalay City Website: www.sipalay.com Email add: christian@sipalay.com Contact No.09104926622 |
| Resort Name: Langub Beach Resort Location: Sugar Beach , Brgy. Nauhang, Sipalay City Contact No. : +63 - 918 - 5738952 |
| Resort Name: Sulu Sunset Beach Resort Location: Sugar Beach , Brgy. Nauhang, Sipalay City Website: www.sulusunset.com Email add: mail@sulusunset.com Contact No. : +63 - 919 - 7167182 |
Resort Name: Robinson Cruse Beach Resort |
Resort Name: Fiesta Cove |
Pension House
Langub Pension House |
Manna Pension |
Matlag Farm House |
Sipalay Suites |
TOURISM CIRCUITS
Tourism Clusters
Cluster 1: North Coastal Cluster
This cluster is closest to Punta Bulata and covers the Barangays of Cartagena, Canturay and Nauhang. There are several dive sites along the coast, the more important of which are in Anajauan Island and off Cartagena Beach . The mangroves in the coast have to be enhanced and preserved. Resorts also abound along the Sugar Beach in Brgy. Nauhang.
Cluster 2: Canturay Resort Cluster
The home of the Four Canturay Falls and breathtaking view of Canturay Bay . This must be maintained as natural open area. This can be a possible site for residential and recreational developments.
Cluster 3: Barangay Gil Montilla Agri-Tourism Cluster
Today this barangay is where rice cultivation is concentrated and where an agricultural school is located. It is proposed that a Rice Museum and Agricultural Training Center be located in this cluster as it is very accessible from the urban areas of Sipalay. The manufacture of crafts and delicacies, as well as activities that can enhance the educational value of agro-tourism need to be developed.
Cluster 4: Malinab Lagoon and Upper Sipalay River Trek Cluster
The cluster in Barangay Cabadiangan showcases mainly nature tourism, so a river trekking strip is proposed to be constructed along the banks of the Sipalay River . It is also in this cluster where the Malinab Lagoon and the Mambaroto Reservoir are located, both suitable sites for day excursions and picnics.
Cluster 5: Poblacion Cluster
This cluster is located in Barangays 1, 2, 3 and 5. Because this area is flood-prone and is located in accreted lands, the City needs to relocate its Civic Center to higher ground--Barangay Gil Montilla. With such a move, there is a need to convert the existing buildings in the Poblacion to structures on stilts (renovated structures) to serve tourism functions.
Cluster 5 then becomes the gateway and the main information and interpretative center of Sipalay City . The market shall provide food, dry goods and souvenirs for tourists. Fresh food produce as well as cuisine typical of the Visayas shall find outlets in food shops at the Poblacion Cluster.
The proposed trekking train is along the riverbanks, marked by meditation areas and view decks affording a view of wetland vegetation. The landscaping can be made more functional and educational to allow visitors to learn what plant materials they can use in their homes. Proper signages shall be installed along the river.
Cluster 6: South Coastal Cluster
This covers Barangay 4 where several tourist resorts are located, Panaon River in the north, Tinagong Dagat and its vicinity. Access and accommodations are generally adequate.
Cluster 7: Caving Cluster
Located in Barangays Mambaroto and Maricalum, these sites are mainly sites for eco-tourism. Numerous caves are located in both barangays, requiring the conduct of topographic mapping and the proper classification of cave features to determine which are going to be protected and, therefore closed for scientific purposes, opened to the public for tourism purposes, and controlled for safety and scientific reasons. The more important caves can be provided with illumination, but fiber optics lighting instead of infrared lighting will be installed. Specific guidelines about how to enter the caves need to be crafted and tour guides need to be trained to assist tourists in spelunking.
Cluster 8: Dive Sites and Resorts Cluster
In the southern coasts of Sipalay, further south of Barangay 4 are several beach resorts and dive sites. Most of the resorts are co-owned by Europeans and are consequently more known in Western Europe but are slowly gaining popularity among Negrenses. Nevertheless, promotions and transport linkages need to be improved in order to encourage more visitors to these places.
Cluster 9: Marine Eco-Tourism Cluster
Campomanes Bay is now declared a Marine Reserve and hence requires a Bantay Dagat (Bay Watch) to regulate development and movement in Campomanes Bay as well as provide marine protection. Campomanes Bay also hosts the City's Ecoport and two shipwreck sites, both of which can be used for marine tourism. An access road to link Barangay 4 to the port facilities may be needed, particularly when the landside of the bay is developed.
Cluster 10: Cayhagan Livelihood Tourism Cluster
The areas of importance in this cluster are Tuburan and Bagacay. This cluster is close to the Municipality of Hinobaan , which is said to be the area where the Filipino guerillas landed with supplies and communications from Australia during the Second World War. Nabulao Bay is the southern boundary of this cluster. Access to this cluster is required.
Cluster 11: Philex Gold Mine Cluster
The cluster is in the Barangay of Nabulao and North of the Municipality of Hinobaan and offers good potential for industrial heritage tourism as well as a model site for the adaptive reuse of an old mine. Viewpoints can be located in specific sites within the bounds of the mine site. At the same time, the cluster can support facilities for conventions and retreats.
Cluster 12: Dung-i Cluster
This cluster is located in the uplands of Manlucahoc. Its key feature is a rustic valley set against sheer limestone cliffs. Campsites and facilities may be developed in these areas. The social history of the population and its memorabilia are recommended features to be included in an interpretative center and museum in the core of the cluster. The educational value of the site must be emphasized.
Cluster 13: Omas Managed Forest and Bird Watching Cluster
This cluster is located northeast of the City in the Barangay of Camindangan, where the community-based forest management project is located. This cluster is proposed to be mainly a nature tour site where an interpretative center is essential. Sites for bird watching have to be delineated and accommodations for overnight stays established. Facilities for eco-tourism, particularly communal utilities, trails and rangers' posts need to be constructed.
