Monday, July 21, 2008 Arroyo asks city to look for Peza expansion site
PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo asked the City Government of Baguio to look for other sites for the expansion of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza).
This came following numerous oppositions against the planned closure of the Loakan airport, supposedly to give way to the expansion of Peza.
"We ask the City Government officials to help us find other areas for the expansion so investors will continue to come here," Arroyo said.
"We were about to close Loakan but we (gave in) to the clamor of local officials not to close the airport," the President said.
Tourism-oriented establishments have opposed plans to shut down Loakan airport fearing the negative impact this will bring to tourist arrivals.
Even the health department said the closure of Loakan would affect the city in terms of emergency response. The airport serves as the only means to airlift patients on emergency situations.
The nearby towns of Tuba, Itogon and Sablan are being considered as alternative sites for the Peza expansion.
The completion of the international airport in San Fernando, La Union, one of the major projects of the Arroyo administration, as outlined in her super regions program, is seen to boost tourism not only in region one but also in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).
Its opening was supposed to signal the closure of Loakan airport. (JC)
