BAGUIO CITY, August 14 (PNA) – – The Loakan Airport may still be operational if the authorities will consider proposals to solve primary concerns.
In his regular weekly press conference on Wednesday, Aug. 12, Baguio City Mayor Mauricio Domogan said he is not giving up on lobbying for the operation of the Loakan Airport which is considered to be the first and only airport in the Cordillera Region.
Domogan said there are minor problems being looked into in the re-opening of the Loakan Airport to commercial flights but these problems, Domogan added, “can be resolved.”
People and vehicles are using the airport as access road to the adjacent barangay, this concern, Domogan said, “can be resolved if another access road is constructed for people to use in going to their residences”.
Domogan added that an access road project was ready for construction but the funds for the project was realigned by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).
“We hope that funding for the Airport’s Rehabilitation can be realized including the provision for another access road that the people can use,” Domogan said.
Airport intrusions and the presence of stray animals and pedestrians on the runway could also be addressed once total rehabilitation is implemented.
“if the rehabilitation is implemented, access to the Loakan Airport will be totally closed to the pedestrians and vehicles.”
The proposed rehabilitation include the construction of an access road west of Runway 09 which will cost about Php 26.7 million and perimeter fence costing about Php 30.7 million.
This will also include upgrading of the airport from Visual Flight Rules to Instrument Flight Rules, installation of an Airfield Lighting System, costing about Php 50 million and proposed construction of a new passenger terminal building for Php 336 million.
“The local government unit (LGU) of Baguio City will try to convince CAAP to pour in funds for the rehabilitation of the Loakan Airport because this facility an important asset of our city”, Domogan said.
Domogan added, the airport had operated commercially for a long time and no notable accidents occurred for the past years despite the perceived dangers. (PNA)