Mayor Celso Lobregat yesterday expressed optimism that the Department of Transportation and Communication will initiate the conduct of a feasibility study for the transfer of the Zamboanga City International Airport outside the city proper.

This developed amid a snowballing move from several sectors seeking the transfer of the airport for important and practical reasons.

Congresspersons Beng Climaco and Erbie A. Fabian have both expressed support to the move to transfer the airport from its present site surrounded by populated barangays to a more safe and ideal site in the east coast, specifically in the Mercedes-Talabaan.

Many have expressed fear that the present airport which is in the heart of the city poses danger to people living in barangays where planes hover the skies in landing and take-off.

According to Mayor Lobregat, there was already a feasibility study made on the proposed transfer of the airport by a Singaporean firm in 1992. The firm mentioned Barangays Mampang, Zambowood , Mercedes or Talabaan as a possible transfer site.

Lobregat said the feasibility study mentioned the need of land area with a total mass area of 175 hectares for the taxing area for the airplanes, airport terminal, parking areas and many others things needed for the airport operations.

The mayor also explained that the city can not initiate the transfer of the present airport because it is a national project to be funded by the national government.

Congressman Fabian in an interview with newsmen vowed that he will make representation with the DOTC and other concerned agencies to hasten the transfer of the Zamboanga airport to a new site.

It was also emphasized that the transfer of the airport will spur economic growth in Zamboanga City, considering that its present site can be developed into a big commercial district.