Laoag airport to undergo P100-million renovation

March 27, 2011

By Eric Apolonio

A plan to renovate the Laoag International Airport at a cost of P100 million has obtained the green light from the Department of Transportation and Communications.

Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines Director General Ramon Gutierrez said the release of half of the project financing has been approved.

The other half will come from the Ilocos Norte provincial government headed by Governor Maria Imelda “Imee” Marcos.

Gutierrez told Manila Standard that Marcos vigorously pushed for the project.

Marcos brought with her plans for the Laoag passenger terminal, designed by Architect Jun Palafox the principal architect and planner of Ilocos Norte’s tourism master plan.

“The governor’s idea is to have a passenger terminal that stands out from other terminals in the country, reflecting the local setting, culture and aesthetics of Ilocos Norte,” Gutierrez said, adding that Marcos is averse to the idea of boxy terminal design, which is common among many airport terminals here and abroad.

Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific hold daily flights at the Laoag airport.Chartered flights to and from Hong Kong and Kaohsiung are being mounted on scheduled basis.