by Prix D Banzon

Davao City (7 October) -- The old airport of Davao City is now the subject of talks after several stakeholders submitted proposals to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) to put the structure into good use.

Davao City Councilor Peter Laviña, committee chair for trade and commerce of the Sanguniang Panlalawigan of this city in an interview after the Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Event Center he said that the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (DCCCII) passed a resolution during Davao Business Conference 2008 asking the national government to convert the place into Cargo, Logistics and Trade Center.

In support to this, a Resolution was endorsed by the Davao City Council authored by Laviña in concurrence to the request of DCCCII.

"The good thing with the CAAP now is that it is headed by Ramon TY Garcia who is also from Davao," he said.

He said when Garcia assumed the post last week the Davao resolution was also among the papers that were submitted to him.

Garcia he said had a meeting with the DCCCII on Monday, October 6 and among the topics discussed was the conversion of the old Davao airport to a center for business activities.

The old airport he said is now being studied by the national government agencies and he said Garcia is amenable to convert the area into anything that will make it viable rather it become idle with the operations either by handled by the government or have it leased.

He said several proposals had been submitted to include the proposals for the use of the tourism sector, trading area, military headquarters or a business process outsourcing center while the University of the Philippines is coming up with a study on the use of the old airport.

A meeting will be called by Garcia within this month among different stakeholders to discuss further their respective proposals.

Within the area of the old airport are the old terminal building, the former air cargo center and the new international passenger building.