GMA releases P130 million for Vigan airport expansion

  • 3 replies
  • 819 views
*

OMG

  • *****
  • Administrator
  • 139996
    • View Profile
    • Mikey Gatal Worldwide
GMA releases P130 million for Vigan airport expansion
« on: September 25, 2008, 05:28:10 PM »
By Teddy Molina

VIGAN CITY – President Arroyo released P130 million last week paving
the way for the start of construction work for the expansion of the
Vigan airport to make it accessible to commercial and international
flights, the office of Rep. Ronald Singson (lst district, Ilocos Sur)
announced yesterday.

Singson who had included the airport's improvement among his
priorities upon his election last year had earlier teamed up with Deputy
Speaker Eric Singson (2nd district, Ilocos Sur) for the inclusion of
P250 million in the national budget for the airport project.

The congressional fund initiative was made part of the 2008 budget of
the Department of Transportation and Communications which was meant to
be dispensed this year and next year.

With P130-million now released, the balance of P120-million will be due
next year.

Local officials led by Ilocos Sur Gov. Deogracias Victor "DV"
Savellano and Vigan Mayor Eva Medina have pointed to the airport as the
key to bring Ilocos Sur closer to the rest of the world and unlock the
tourism, business, and trade potentials of the city and province.

In its present condition, however, only small planes and company-owned
light aircraft are using it.

Rep. Ronald Singson's father Deputy National Security Adviser Luis
"Chavit" Singson had earlier envisioned the need to expand the
airport during his term as governor to boost business and economic
activities.

The former governor took note of Ilocos Sur's proximity to China
saying the province should prepare to be able to cash-in on the
spill-over effect of the economic boom in the Chinese continent.

A former provincial board member, Ronald Singson stressed on the urgency
of his airport project saying Vigan is a top location in the tourism
world map chiefly due to its highly acknowledged community of
centuries-old ancestral houses.

The well-preserved buildings that are still habitable had withstood the
rigors of time earning for Vigan their inscription as World Heritage
Site by the UNESCO.

"But international flights could not make it here," he lamented.
He expressed sadness over the "lost oppurtunity" that would have
otherwise benefitted the city and his constituents in terms of income
had Vigan been accessible to tourists by air.

Medina, Vice Mayor Francisco Ranches Jr. and local tourism councils have
joined hands with Chavit, Savellano, and Rep. Singson in looking for
ways leading to the airport's upgrading.

With the impending expansion of the airport, the first district
congressman expects foreign visitors to come in droves perking up the
sluggish growth in local tourism.

Savellano also cited the Vigan airport's potential for increased
trade and commerce with makers of the province's noted products as
beneficiaries.

Ilocos Sur's furniture products, native food, and hand-woven fabrics
topped the list of products sold during a regional trade festival held
in Manila recently.

w

willyramasola

  • *****
  • 18142
    • View Profile
Re: GMA releases P130 million for Vigan airport expansion
« Reply #1 on: September 25, 2008, 10:06:36 PM »
ang panglao airport intawon...murag wala gyud maka take-off.

*

OMG

  • *****
  • Administrator
  • 139996
    • View Profile
    • Mikey Gatal Worldwide
Re: GMA releases P130 million for Vigan airport expansion
« Reply #2 on: September 26, 2008, 07:39:42 AM »
wala pa diay gyud masug dan ang Panglao airport?

w

willyramasola

  • *****
  • 18142
    • View Profile
Re: GMA releases P130 million for Vigan airport expansion
« Reply #3 on: September 26, 2008, 07:41:31 AM »
ingon silag hapit na..pero that was years ago pa.