The government has started implementing development projects at Vigan Airport to further boost the tourism industry and trade activities in the city and other areas in the Ilocos Region.
On Monday, officials of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, Department of National Defense, the Armed Forces and provincial government of Ilocos Sur led the groundbreaking ceremony of the airport’s runway extension project.
Once completed, the P69-million project will enable Vigan Airport to cater to bigger aircraft, which means more flights and more passengers for the airport.
CAAP spokesperson Eric Apolonio said the infrastructure development project of Vigan Airport was launched to address the growing demand for improvement in the airport serving the general area of the Ilocos Region.
He added that aside from the runway extension, projects such as the runway site acquisition, expansion of Passenger Terminal Building, construction of an Administration Building, and improvement of Vehicle Parking Area are also in the works.
Transportation Undersecretary for Aviation and Airports Manuel Antonio Tamayo also said: “When we build and improve our nation’s airports, we are also building platforms for mobility and connectivity that usher in economic and social development.”
“Through this project, Vigan will be more accessible to Filipinos who wish to witness its historical charm. And we know that with more people coming in to Vigan, more jobs come to life for our kababayans,” added Tamayo.
The Vigan Airport Development Project is among four airport projects that proceed from the Memorandum of Agreement signed by the Transportation department and the DND in November 2018.
The Armed Forces Task Force for Infrastructure Development, headed by M/Gen. Felipe Bejar will implement the airport projects through funds downloaded from the department.
Vigan Airport, classified by CAAP as a community airport, presently caters to general aviation aircraft.
In just a span of two years, passenger volume has tripled in Vigan. From a record of 14,645 passengers in 2016, the airport was able to register 47,856 passengers for 2018, a compelling indication that Vigan is swiftly gaining an influx of passengers.
The City of Vigan, which also serves as the province’s capital, is located on the western coast of the island of Luzon, facing the South China Sea.
Well-known for being a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the city boasts of cobblestone streets and unique architecture that fuses Philippine building design with colonial European architecture.