ILOILO: The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Western Visayas on Tuesday updated the public on the ongoing improvements at the Iloilo International Airport in Cabatuan town to provide more comfort to passengers. In an interview at the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas forum, CAAP 6 Area Manager Eusebio Monserate Jr. said the agency will be adding 300 more seats at the pre-departure area, increasing its current 720 seating capacity. 'With the increasing number of passengers, we are also augmenting our air-conditioning system,' he added. Currently, he said their technical engineers are in Japan to inspect three chiller systems that will be installed at the airport next month. Other improvements include the installation of two new escalator units and the repair of the existing one, an improved public address system, and repair of the defective flight information display stations, using the PHP190.5 million fund in the 2024 General Appropriations Act. 'The project is now on its final design,' he s aid, adding that the pre-procurement process will be finished by August. Meantime, Monserate said the airport is ready to accept international flights, but has yet to receive proposals from airline companies. Earlier, Mayor Jerry P. Treñas said he has written airline companies for additional flights to Iloilo to reduce the prices of tickets and for the resumption of Hong Kong and Singapore flights. Tuesday's Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas held at the operations room of the Department of Public Works and Highways here gathered agencies under the Department of Transportation to update the public on their projects and accomplishments. Besides CAAP, the other agencies joining the forum included the Maritime Industry Authority, Philippine Coast Guard, Land Transportation Office, Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board and Philippine Ports Authority. Source: Philippines News Agency