Legarda ushers new era for Antique as airport opening seen to boost tourism, regional gateway

Senator Loren Legarda, on Monday, January 19, joined President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. in inaugurating the Antique Airport Development Project, a milestone she had championed for nearly a decade.

Legarda emphasized that the modernized airport is a landmark achievement for Antique and, at the same time, a catalyst for local tourism and regional growth, strengthening connectivity across Western Visayas, particularly for Iloilo and the rest of Panay Island.

Held at the Passenger Terminal Building (PTB) Lounge in Barangay Funda-Dalipe, San Jose de Buenavista, Antique, the event drew national officials, local leaders, and members of the community who witnessed the long-awaited transformation of what was once considered an ambitious dream into a tangible symbol of progress for the province.

“In 2016, I spoke about modernizing the Antique Airport. Many considered it too ambitious for a province often overlooked. But I have always believed that Antique has the capacity to grow and prosper. What it needed was the opportunity to prove its potential,” Legarda exclaimed.

The four-term senator underscored her role as then chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, securing the funding that sustained the project.

She highlighted the steady progress of construction: groundwork began in 2016; by 2017, the runway was extended, and sites were acquired for landside facilities; by 2018, the strip had stretched to 1,400 meters; and by 2023, to 1,700 meters.

Antique Airport has now undergone a major modernization, highlighted by a new Passenger Terminal Building, expanded from 181 to 2,224 square meters, raising capacity from 64 to 360 passengers. The facility now has six check-in counters from the previous two, a ramp that can accommodate four jet aircraft, and a control tower expanded to seven storeys for safer operations.

The runway has been extended from 1,430 to 1,800 meters, enabling Airbus aircraft to land in Antique. Modern systems for baggage handling and flight information have been installed to improve the passenger experience. This project stands as proof of sustained national investment and local determination. (30)

Legarda: Bagong Antique airport inaasahang magpapalakas ng turismo at magsisilbing panrehiyong daungan

Nakasama ni Senador Loren Legarda si Pangulong Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. noong Lunes, Enero 19, sa pagpapasinaya ng Antique Airport Development Project, isang mahalagang tagumpay na kanyang itinaguyod sa loob ng halos isang dekada.

Binigyang-diin ni Legarda na ang makabagong paliparan ay isang makasaysayang tagumpay para sa Antique at magsisilbing mabisang tagapagpasigla ng lokal na turismo at panrehiyong pag-unlad, na magpapatibay sa ugnayan at konektibidad sa Western Visayas, partikular sa Iloilo at sa iba pang bahagi ng Panay Island.

Isinagawa ang seremonya sa Passenger Terminal Building (PTB) Lounge sa Barangay Funda-Dalipe, San Jose de Buenavista, Antique. Dinaluhan ito ng mga pambansang opisyal, lokal na pinuno, at mga Antiqueño, na nasaksihan ang pinakahihintay na pagbubukas ng paliparan, na ngayo’y isa nang kongkretong simbolo ng pag-unlad ng lalawigan.

“Noong 2016, aking binigkas ang panawagan na gawing makabago ang Antique Airport. Marami ang nagsabing ito’y labis na ambisyoso para sa isang lalawigang madalas napapabayaan. Ngunit naniwala akong may kakayahan ang Antique na umunlad at magtagumpay. Ang kailangan lamang ay ang pagkakataong maipakita ang kanyang tunay na potensyal,” pahayag ni Legarda.

Binigyang-diin ng senadora ang kanyang naging papel bilang noo’y tagapangulo ng Senate Committee on Finance, kung saan kanyang tiniyak ang pondong nagpanatili at nagsulong sa proyekto.

Ipinunto rin niya ang tuluy-tuloy na pag-usad ng konstruksiyon: nagsimula ang paghahanda noong 2016; noong 2017, pinalawig ang runway at nakuha ang mga lupang pagtatayuan ng mga pasilidad; pagsapit ng 2018, umabot sa 1,400 metro ang haba ng runway; at noong 2023, pinalawig pa ito hanggang 1,700 metro.

Sumailalim na ngayon ang Antique Airport sa isang malawakang modernisasyon, tampok ang bagong Passenger Terminal Building na pinalawak mula 181 hanggang 2,224 metro kuwadrado. Itinaas din ang kapasidad mula 64 hanggang 360 pasahero, at mayroon na itong anim na check-in counter mula sa dating dalawa, isang rampa na kayang tumanggap ng apat na jet aircraft, at isang control tower na pinalawak hanggang pitong palapag para sa mas ligtas na operasyon.

Pinalawig din ang runway mula 1,430 hanggang 1,800 metro, na nagbibigay-daan sa paglapag ng mga Airbus aircraft sa Antique. Nilagyan na rin ang paliparan ng makabagong sistema para sa baggage handling at flight information para sa mga pasahero. (30)