Baguio airport full rehabilitation gets fresh push

BAGUIO City, Philippines – The city's Loakan Airport is getting a fresh push for its facelift from City Rep. Nicasio Aliping Jr.

Aliping said he will meet with officials of the Department of Transportation and Communications next week to push for the full rehabilitation of the airport, which has been almost forgotten with its still sad state.

The airport is operational but only to small aircrafts like chartered light planes and helicopters.

“Once rehabilitated, the airport can again host commercial flights,” said the Baguio City solon.

He said that a complete rehabilitation study has been done for the Loakan Airport. “We need to make this study into reality to boost our tourism and as a ready emergency facility.”

Aliping proposes ways to address the current problems by the airport, including the dangers to commercial planes during inclement weather and late afternoons.

Ever since, once the vicinity at the Loakan Airport turns cloudy, airplanes divert to other airports, postpone the flight or returns to its port of origin.

“Night and zero visibility navigational devices can be installed,” Aliping said. “We can extend the runway until Loakan road and build underpass," he said.

He added: "DOTC Secretary Abaya has welcomed the proposed dialogue and has expressed optimism for the rehabilitation of the airport."

Tourism stakeholders have been citing access to the Loakan Airport as one major issue in the tourism business here.

Aliping also disclosed that he will ask the Office of the President to help fund the full rehabilitation of the Baguio Convention Center.

“We want the Baguio Convention Center to be a world class facility which can host big events and conventions” Aliping said.

He said that the Convention Center, also now in a bad state, can be instrumental and promoting further the City of Baguio as a convention city.

“We have already missed many opportunities because of the sad state of our Convention Center. If we can fully rehabilitate this, we can house exhibits and showcase events that can promote our people’s cultures and tourism programs,” he said.