The realization of Pangasinan airport here in Alaminos has begun.
Officials of the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), Air Transportation Office (ATO) and the Philipp’s Technical Consultants Corp. (PTCC) were here last Wednesday for the conduct of feasibility study (FS) on the proposed airport project.
The high level group first had a courtesy call with the city mayor before visiting and validating the three possible airport project sites in the city.
Engr. Eduardo Garcia of the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO), City Engineer Mario Mabalot and City General Services chief Ismael Najera accompanied the team during the whole day ocular inspection.
Based on their initial technical report, the team found the proposed Alaminos Airport specifically at the mothballed Proton cars assembly plant site as the most feasible.
“The presence of the Hundred Islands, the city’s major tourist destination, made the (Alaminos) airport economically and technically viable,” said Thelma Mauricio-PTCC’s VP for Business Development.
PTCC was selected to conduct the Pre-Feasibility Study and Master plan for Alaminos City Airport among the three short listed consultants.
The DOT bided-out the Consulting Services for the said feasibility study and Master plan for Alaminos City Airport last June 20.
Garcia said that the CPDO had already prepared all the documentary requirements in the conduct of the FS to facilitate the implementation of the said project.
This include the Alaminos City Master Plan by Palafox Associates, Ortho Photography of Alaminos City by F.F Cruz & Company, Inc., Initial Technical Report of ATO including Windrose Analysis at the Proposed Site, CLUP, Profile of Proposed Project Sites, Land Valuation and Classification Environmental Profile, Cadastral Map of Proposed Project Sites, Tax Declaration, RDC Resolutions, Brgy. Resolution of Support in Project Sites, ELA 2008-2010, Local Development Council Resolution and Support Commitment Letter/Documents of Airlines, Tourism Statistics, Transport Sector Profile, Zoning Ordinance, Provincial Planning and Development Framework Plan and Zonal Valuation.
“We’re just waiting for their formal request so that we could forward all the documents they needed," added Garcia, who represented city planning and development officer Roel Anoñuevo during said meeting.
At the breakfast meeting at Islandia Hotel the next morning, Braganza assured the team of the city’s full cooperation during the entire duration of the study.
Present during the meeting were members of the city council headed by Vice Mayor Teofilo Humilde Jr. and former mayors Eduardo Fontelera and Leon Rivera Jr.
The Mayor briefed the FS team on the history of the Pangasinan Airport Project including the summary of justification for an airport in the Alaminos as well as its impacts to the province and the North Luzon Agribusiness Quadrangle.
He also cited the tremendous impact of the project on tourism, agriculture, industrial park development and economic development to other LGUs.
Braganza said the airport project enhances accessibility of Pangasinan to and from other destination in the country and the world as well as the commercial viability of the proposed Alaminos-Dagupan-San Fernando Ferry System.
“The airport is expected to hasten the realization of the Underwater Marine Theme Park of the Hundred Islands National Park," added the former Press and Agrarian Reform secretary. "It also enhances the development of various industrial parks in the province such as the Sual Power Plant and strengthens the commercial viability of the proposed Sual Seaport.”
He noted that the project will even optimizes the development of Under-Used Agricultural Production Land and accelerates the development of halal foods for export
Investors' interest to revive the mothballed PEZA Proclaimed Proton Car Assembly Plant will likewise be triggered once an airport is put up in the city.
Also seen to benefit from the project are neighboring towns in the first district which was designated as Center of Economic Development in Pangasinan.
Through the FS team, Braganza thanked anew Her Excellency President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for the realization of a commercial Airport in Alaminos City which according to him will trigger tourism and economic development of the whole province.
In her 2007 State of the Nation Addresss (SONA), President Arroyo announced the construction of Pangasinan Airport in the City of Alaminos.
It was also last year that the city government received a letter of commitment from Asian Spirit signed by Mr. Jack Po, Executive Vice President, to directly fly tourists other Asian countries direct to the City of the Hundred Islands.
On June 12, 2007, the Regional Development Council endorses Pangasinan Airport in the City of Alaminos thru RDC ExCom Resolution No. 32, Series 2007.
The RDC based their resolution on the initial study of the Air Transportation Office (ATO) inspection team dated 27 January 2006, finding the proposed Pangasinan Airport site feasible.
Engr. Arturo Balderas of DOTC, in a visit to the city last August 29, 2007, confirmed the technical viability of the proposed site of Pangasinan Airport in the city.
As early as August 1993, the Provincial Board passed Resolution No. 293 endorsing House Bill No. 1399 for the construction of a Domestic Airport in the City of Alaminos because of its technical, financial and economic viability.
DOTC officials and PTCC consultants are expected to be back next week to expedite the study on the airport project. (CIO)