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Lingayen airport assessed for upgrading |
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Tuesday, 25 December 2007 22:57 |
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{mosimage}LINGAYEN -- Governor Amado Espino, Jr. has all the reason to be happy this Christmas as his dream of having a domestic commercial airport will be realized.
A team of technicians from the Air Transport Office (ATO) led by Noel Iligan, came here recently to assess the condition of the Lingayen Airport 900-meter runway if asphalt overlay can be done on it.
"Actually, LET 410 of Sea Air and Asian Spirit can fly here," he said.
The airport is being used by light aircrafts of flying schools.
Iligan said if the airport will be upgraded into a domestic airport, the length of the runway would be extended to a maximum of 2,100 to accommodate jet or airbus planes. A terminal building will also have to be constructed, navigational facilities must be put in place, and there must be a Crash, Fire and Rescue (CFR) equipment like fire trucks.
"We will submit our technical evaluation on the existing condition of the airport to the assistant secretary Daniel Dimagiba. Next step will be the financial aspect," he said.
Iligan is confident that the project will be realized.
"The current status of the Lingayen Airport is a national airport for general aviation," he said.
Espino said Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza has assured him they will fund the renovation and upgrading of the Lingayen Airport.
Espino has been campaigning for the transformation of the airport into a domestic airport.
He said having a domestic airport in the province would propel its economic status.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo meantime has mentioned in her State of the Nation Address (Sona) the construction of an international airport in Alaminos City.
Sta. Barbara Mayor Reynaldo Velasco is also working for the construction of an international airport in the town.
Iligan said their office already have feasibility studies for the two areas.
He said it is possible to have two airports in a province, but of different categories. One should be a domestic airport and the other an international airport.
The Lingayen Airport is located beside the police provincial headquarters near the beach, and one kilometer away from the provincial capitol compound. The Americans constructed it before the World War II, and it served as landing field of US pilots conducting familiarization flights in Northern Luzon.
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