THE Regional Development Council Infrastructure Development Committee (RDC-INFRACOM) endorsed the inclusion of the Baguio Airport Modernization Program amounting to P151 million in the 2015 Department of Transportation and Communications budget.
The amount will be utilized for site acquisition and construction of access road at runway 09; airfield lighting system, new perimeter fencing and aeronautical survey.
The RDC technical working group for Baguio Airport with technical assistance of the National Economic and Development Authority has completed earlier this year the study on “Advancing the Baguio Airport Modernization Project”.
Among the recommendations in the study are the upgrading of the Visual Flight Rules to Instrument Flight Rules; the provision of navigational equipment for day and night landing and takeoff; security of the airport property and completion of access roads; rehabilitation of the perimeter fence; an Aeronautical Survey; and widening of airport runway strip.
The study was adopted by the RDC in its full council last September 12.
It is expected that once fully rehabilitated, the Baguio Airport will attract commercial air carriers to boost tourism and trade. The project will answer the foremost concern of commercial airlines on the safety of the airport runway and the aircrafts to be used.
An improved airport will also help the Cordillera in its pursuit of a physically integrated region.
Engr. Tony Caluza, co-chairman of the InfraCom, had earlier stressed the importance of the Baguio Airport also known as the Loakan airport, when it served as a lifeline infrastructure when all major highways into the city became inaccessible during the 1990 earthquake which devastated the city. (Shah Balaw-ing)