Loakan Airport facelift, commercialization eyed

THE CIVIL Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) is doing a survey of the Loakan Airport to see if some upgrading could again make the facility viable for regular air travel.

At present, the Loakan Airport is being used by the Philippine Air Force and the presidential chopper, but not by commercial flights due to its small size, too many pedestrians near the site, and the upland fog that hinders night vision.

CAAP surveyors arrived in Baguio on May 28 and will stay in the city for at least two weeks to complete the survey, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) - Cordillera Director Milagros Rimando told the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

The surveyors will conduct aerial and land survey, a vital process before pursuing any development.

The Regional Development Council (RDC) has tagged the development of the Loakan Airport as among the pri

orities in its 2018 Regional Infrastructure Development Projects for the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

Rimando said a feasibility study on facelifting Loakan Airport was done in 2012, as regional officials had been pushing for it.

Even airline companies and some foreign brokers had been presenting project proposals and showing interest in the development of the airport, she added.

“We’ve been talking to several clients, including those who visited us in the office, and they showed us good proposals and interest in helping us develop Loakan Airport,” she said.

Built in 1934, Loakan Airport is the only airport in Cordillera. Prior to the 1990 earthquake, commercial airplanes serviced the city but stopped after the devastation brought about by the killer earthquake.

It was also noted that the residents on the other side of the airport's runway and the climate in the region are bound to affect flights.

“Its short runway, frequent low visibility, and dilapidated structures, along with deep ravines on both ends of the runway continue to be the challenges faced by commercial airline operators,” Rimando noted.

CAAP classifies Loakan Airport as Class 2 or a minor domestic airport.

“We've been requesting the previous CAAP director to send his team of experts for the survey however they showed little interest,” she lamented. "But we are now happy that the new director has replied to our request by sending his team. We’re hoping that the survey result would favor us.”

The NEDA-CAR official said her office would also meet with clients, who had previously shown interest in pursuing the modification of the airport through Public-Private Partnership (PPP).

However, if the CAAP survey finds no way for the Loakan Airport to accommodate bigger planes of big companies, Rimando said they will look for smaller players as PPP partners.

Included in the modification plans for Loakan Airport are the construction of a new terminal and the relocation of the old structure.

The navigational aids would also be upgraded to allow the airplanes to land and fly even on foggy days.

Construction of a bypass road is also being eyed to prevent the public from crossing the runway.