Mandaluyong City- Its official, the home of the world famous Hundred Islands National Park (HINP) will host the first commercial airport in the province of Pangasinan.
The Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) and the Alaminos City government entered into Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) yesterday for the realization of the Alaminos Airport Development Project.
Atty. Doroteo A. Reyes, DOTC Undersecretary and Mayor Hernani A. Braganza signed the MOA in behalf of the DOTC and the Alaminos Government at the DOTC Office in Columbia Towers, Ortigas Ave., Mandaluyong City.
DOTC Secretary Leonardo R. Mendoza then approved the MOA to finally commence the project this year, thus, ending all speculations as to where really a commercial airport will be built in the province.
Witnessing them seal the deal were other high ranking officials of DOTC namely Directors Ricardo Diaz and Guillermo Leonardo. Also present were Alaminos City Vice Mayor Teofilo G. Humilde Jr. , city councilors Joselito Fontelera, Orlando Go, Earl James Aquino, Carolyn Dizon-Sison, Constante Carasi, Oscar Boling, Cirilo Radoc and Helen Bumagat, former mayor Eduardo Fontelera, Board Member Danilo Dizon and some department heads.
After signing, Mayor Braganza and Sec. Mendoza immediately gave their brief messages.
Bolstering Pangasinan’s potentials
“It’s indeed our honor and privilege to host in our city the first commercial airport for the province of Pangasinan,”`
“This will definitely bolster not only the industrial potential of Pangasinan but likewise the tourism potential of our province as well,” stressed the former two-term first district congressman.
He also said that the Pangasinan Airport will also complement the Seaport and the power plant in Sual.”
“Hopefully, the completion of this project will make the province accessible to commercial traffic of both people and goods in the province,”
Braganza said Sec. Mendoza can easily appreciate this (airport project) since he is very familiar with the province.
Sec. Mendoza once served Pangasinan as the former PNP provincial director from 1989 to1992 before he was promoted to higher positions and became the PNP top brass.
And under his watch, the province was relatively peaceful and orderly thus, sustaining its economic development.
“Again, in behalf of the people of Alaminos, allow me to thank the good secretary, Her Excellency President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and our DOTC family for this very laudable project,” said the mayor.
Great benefits
An airport in Alaminos is a boon to the province, said the Sec. Mendoza
“This is not just all about passengers but more importantly there’s bigger and more traffic in cargo, he said.
Mendoza cited Cebu as an example of how cargo traffic is generated.
He said that there are so many industries and factories that are being developed around the airport alone.
Aside from that many cargo planes transport goods outside the province and the country.
The secretary noted that the country is strategically located at the heart of Asia-Pacific.
“From the Philippines, you can go anywhere in Asia-Pacific within five hours, he pointed. This makes our country an ideal hub of cargo.”
“With the potential and the skills of the people of Pangasinan, we expect so many industries will be developed in your place.”
SONA commitment
“(On the part of the national government particularly the DOTC) we welcome with great anticipation, this airport of international standard to be built in the great province of Pangasinan at Alaminos City,” said Sec. Mendoza in his opening statement.
“We all know that many towns were very much interested, lobbied to get the airport project,” he said.
But Braganza is the man, he added even as he recalled how good leader the hardworking and visionary mayor of Alaminos really was.
Mendoza disclosed that when he was still the PNP Chief, Braganza, then a cabinet secretary, was instrumental in the release of an Italian priest who has held captive by bandits.
“Of course, we are doing this upon the instructions of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, he continued.
“This is part of her SONA commitment.”
Alaminos Airport Dev’t. Project was actually announced in 2007 during the president’s State of the Nation Address.
DOTC conducted pre-feasibility and feasibility studies for almost two years and in 2009 it has appropriated P 150M under its Infrastructure Program of the General Appropriations Act.
The agreement was finally signed paving the way for the realization of the Phase 1 of this P 2.2 B investment here in Alaminos and the province.
DOTC will deliver
While the project couldn’t be completed within the term of the President, what is important according to the DOTC chief is that the construction of the airport will now commence.
The initial P150 M allocation for the land acquisition and improvement is already set to be released now that the MOA has already been signed.
Mendoza assured that once the construction has started, the next administration will definitely provide the needed funds for its completion.
“From your DOTC family, congratulations again to Mayor Braganza, the people of Alaminos City and the province of Pangasinan, he said.”
“It’s really high time to have a commercial airport in Pangasinan, he stressed. As mentioned by Mayor Nani that smaller provinces have more than one airport, Pangasinan, one of the biggest provinces, therefore deserves to have one.”
“For us, your partner, we will make sure that we will deliver a world class airport that will not only benefit the province but also the entire nation.
Funds are ready
Under the MOA, DOTC shall allocate available funds to cover the cost of acquisition of lands and improvements affected by the airport project.
The city government has earlier submitted a Program of Work (POW) for the land acquisition and Earth works with an estimated total cost P 135, 760, 066.13 M.
DOTC will transfer to the city coffer the first tranche amounting P50 M which will be released within a month from the signing and execution of the MOA.
While, the second tranche amounting to P 85, 760, 066.13 will be released upon liquidation of the first tranche.
The said agency will also conduct a ground survey to establish the final area covered by the airport.
It will also exercise its audit powers over the LGU expenditures and monitor the site/right of way and acquisition activities in accordance with the approved POW prepared by the city.
On the part of the city government, it will conduct negotiation with lot owners for the acquisition of lands.
The city has already prepared the POW on the acquisition of lands and improvement and will be submitting a monthly accomplishment report on the status of the funds utilization and progress of work to DOTC.
Groundbreaking of the project will be this December or early part of 2010.
The construction of the Alaminos Airport is envisioned to spur economic development not just of the city but the whole of western Pangasinan that has been identified as part of the Agri-Tourism Cluster.
Furthermore, the local tourism industry is expected to skyrocket in terms of arrival of local and foreign tourists to the Hundred Islands and other major tourist havens in Northern Luzon. (CIO)