Staff reporter
LAOAG CITY—Following the
upgrading of facilities at the Laoag International Airport (LIA), the
Department of Transportation (DOTr) has granted the released of about PHP128
million for its expansion and improvement.
Provincial legal officer,
Atty. Herme Labayog confirmed this as he said the Ilocos Norte government
represented by Governor Ma. Imelda “Imee” Marcos and the DOTr represented by
Undersecretary for legal Affairs and Procurement, Atty. Reinier Paul Yebra
already signed a four-page memorandum of agreement.
After the MOA signing, Mr.
Labayog reported that they expect the release of at least 15 % of the total
amount at the soonest possible time to kick-off the Laoag expansion project.
As cited in the MOA, the DOTr
shall fund the acquisition of affected lots and the improvements found in the
area including administrative costs, disturbance compensation, assistance to
displaced people, transfer and registration of land titles, procurement of the
services of an independent property appraiser or a government financial
institution and for purposes of property appraisal.
Meanwhile, the Ilocos Norte
government shall facilitate the acquisition of affected lots and resettlement
with the affected persons in support of the national government project.
To conform with the
International Civil Aviation Organization Standards and Recommendation
Practices and with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines Manual of
Standards for Aerodromes, the national government included the Laoag airport
development among its priority projects of the for this year.
Two years ago, LIA officials
increased rental fees of stall occupants at the Laoag airport to infuse more
funds for various improvement projects of the airport.
Ronald Estabillo, Civil
Aviation Authority terminal manager for the Laoag airport earlier said the
existing rates for the developed and undeveloped portions occupied by stall
owners here were very minimal considering that the last increase was during the
latter part of 1990s.
From a rental fee of PHP20
per square meter for undeveloped parts outside the Laoag airport and PHP30 per
square meter for stalls occupying inside the airport, the rental fees increased
by more than a hundred percent.
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