THE P7.853-billion Laguindingan International Airport (LIA) in Moog, Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental, is almost operational, the Regional Development Council (RDC) in Northern Mindanao announced.
Misamis Oriental governor Oscar Moreno, who concurrently chairs the RDC in Northern Mindanao, said construction officials of the long-delayed project are now looking into concerns on air navigation facilities to make the airport ready to service all flights coming in and out of the region by the last quarter of 2012.
Few months ago, Moreno was worried that the airport's operation will be moved to 2013, following the resignation of Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) Secretary Jose De Jesus early this year.
"The ongoing construction will soon become a major hub for export of agricultural and trade products, and for the import of tourists to the areas around Cagayan de Oro and Iligan City. This is why we want to establish state-of-the-art facilities at the airport," he said.
The governor, in the meantime, wants the RDC to focus on other possible developments to be introduced in the region aside from the completion of the Laguindingan Airport Development Project (LADP).
He said the RDC has to consider the increasing number of passengers and cargo traffic along the Cagayan de Oro-Iligan Corridor (CIC), which is seen to boost the economic development in the region and improve air transportation safety.
Road widening, business opportunities, environmental considerations and changes in the land uses of municipalities along the CIC must be put to RDC's list of priorities this year.
Moreno said the RDC will initiate the formulation of a Laguindingan Airport master plan -- to make the optimal use of the airport and set out how it shall handle the growing demand for air travel in the coming years while considering the economic, social and environmental dimensions of the airport's operation within 2015 and 2030.
By: Nicole J. Managbanag
SunStar Cagayan De Oro
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