The Loakan Airport in the city of Baguio may be catering domestic flights starting December this year pending the complete rehabilitation and upgrading of the airport.
The Department of Transportation (DoTr) has assured city government officials of the rehabilitation and upgrading of the airport to meet the operational requirements of domestic flights.
According to the DoTr and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), a P68 million budget will be allocated for the rehabilitation of the airport terminal and the installation of an Instrument Landing System (ILS) that guides pilots in maneuvering airplanes in and out of the airport even in bad weather conditions.
CAAP will also renovate the runway by extending the length by at least 100 meters and installing a drainage system.
They will also remove 35 natural obstructions that have been identified as being within the buffer zone.
The city government reminded residents within the airport's buffer zone to voluntarily remove their structures or let the city government demolish them.
About 110 structures within the declared 150-meter buffer zone of the Loakan airport have already been issued demolition notices by the City Buildings and Architecture Office (CBAO) as part of the local government's efforts to free the airport from obstacles that will give way to its opening for commercial operation.
Built in 1934, Loakan Airport serviced domestic flights until the July 1990 earthquake. Currently, the airport only services charter and military flights on demand.
