DOTr oks P128M LIA upgrade

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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