The province of Iloilo is not yet fully prepared for the resumption of commercial flights, Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. said on Sunday, May 31.
Commercial operations in Iloilo International Airport remain suspended despite the downgrade of the province’s quarantine status to MGCQ (modified general community quarantine) from GCQ.
According to Defensor, measures on the entry of people from outside Western Visayas via air travel are still being crafted.
The provincial government is planning to install a quarantine post in the arrival area of the airport to monitor arriving passengers.
Defensor said they would coordinate with concerned agencies for the proper implementation of safety measures once finalized.
“Delikado kon buksan ta ang aton airport nga wala sang coordination kag proper preparation kay masulod na di sa aton ang bisan sin-o,” he explained.
“Sa na-agreehan namon, indi anay mag-open ang tanan nga airports sa Western Visayas. Unahon anay ang sweeper flights nga madala diri sang mga standed OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) and LSIs (locally stranded individuals)” Defensor added.
The Iloilo airport closed its doors to commercial flights when the province was placed under ECQ on March 20.
The order suspending airport operations is set to expire on June 10, according to Arthur Parreño, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP-Iloilo) terminal supervisor and public information officer.IMT
