Finally, an airport will be built in Alaminos, Pangasinan

By Leonardo V. Micua

This was after the signing on Thursday of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the construction of the project, named Alaminos Airport Development Project by the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) and the Alaminos City government.

Undersecretary Doroteo A. Reyes signed the MOA in behalf of the DOTC and Mayor Hernani Braganza, for the Alaminos Government. The signing took place at the DOTC Office in Columbia Towers, Ortigas Avenue, Mandaluyong City.

DOTC Secretary Leandro Mendoza approved the MOA for the project, which has been set for construction this year, finally ending speculations as to where the commercial airport will be built.

Witnessing the signing were Directors Ricardo Diaz and Guillermo Leonardo, both of the DOTC, Vice Mayor Teofilo 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, Provincial Board Member Danilo Dizon and some department heads, all from Alaminos.

It’s indeed an honor and privilege for our city to host the first commercial airport for the province of Pangasinan,” Mayor Braganza said, pointing out that Phase 1 of the project alone will bring a total investment of P2.2 billion to the city.

He said this will definitely bolster not only the industrial but also the tourism potentials of Pangasinan.

He added the Pangasinan Airport will complement the proposed seaport and the power plant in the adjacent town of Sual.

“Hopefully, this project will make the province accessible to commercial traffic of both people and goods, he added.

On the other hand, Secretary Mendoza said an airport in Alaminos is a boon to the entire province, pointing out that "this is not just all about passengers but more importantly, there’s bigger and more traffic in cargo head."

Citing Cebu City, Mendoza said there are still a lot of industries and factories that can be developed around the airport alone.

This is aside from the fact that that there are many cargo planes that will transport goods outside the province and the country.

Noting that the the country is strategically located in the heart of Asia-Pacific, Mendoza said that from the Philippines, one can go anywhere in the Pacific within five hours.

He said this makes the 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,” Mendoza said.

The Alaminos Airport Development Project was actually announced in 2007 during the State of the Nation Address of Presidxent Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

After conducting pre-feasibility and feasibility studies on the project for almost two years, the DOTC appropriated P150 million this year under its Infrastructure Program in the General Appropriations Act.

With the agreement finally signed, Phase 1 of the P 2.2-billion investment will soon be started, Mendoza said.

The secretary said while the project could not be completed within the term of President Arroyo, what is important is that the groundwork for the construction of the airport is now in place.

With the signing of the MOA, an initial P150 million allocation for the land acquisition and improvement is already set to be released.

DOTC will transfer to the city coffer the first tranche of the fund amounting P50 million which will be released within a month from the signing and execution of the MOA.

The second tranche amounting to P85,760,066.13 will be released upon liquidation of the first tranche.

Mendoza assured that once the construction has started, the next administration will definitely provide the needed funds for its completion.

“It’s really high time to have a commercial airport in Pangasinan. As mentioned by Mayor Nani (nickname of Braganza) that smaller provinces have more than one airport, Pangasinan, one of the biggest provinces, therefore deserves to have one.”

Under the MOA, DOTC shall allocate available funds to cover the cost of acquisition of lands and improvements affected by the airport project.

The DOTC 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. (PNA)