Newsletter_March-April '10 Save PDF - Philippines Bases ...

In the NewsSan Fernando Airport Resumesby Roy Victor RosalesDomestic Operations BCDA Public AffairsThe San Fernando Airport in La Union resumeddomestic operations on April 14, 2010 followingthe completion of the first phase of its halfbillion peso-airport upgrading project funded by the stateownedBases Conversion and Development Authority(BCDA).The San Fernando Airport is part of the Poro Point FreeportZone (PPFZ) being managed by the Poro Point ManagementCorporation (PPMC), a subsidiary of the BCDA.For its inaugural flight on April 14, 2010, South East AsianAir (SEAIR) flight DG0205 left the Manila Domestic Airport at11:40 am and arrived at the San Fernando Airport at 12:40 pm,officially signaling the resumption of domestic operations afterthe airport was closed last December 2007 to give way to the saidairport upgrading.Underscoring the significance of a fully developed PPFZ,BCDA President and CEO Gen Narciso Abaya (Ret) said theresumption of domestic operations in the San Fernando Airportwill further strengthen Poro Point in attracting more investmentsand tourists leading to more jobs generated for the people of LaUnion. “Increased investments and tourist spending will augurwell for the economy of La Union,” Abaya said.PPMC Executive Vice President and Chief OperatingOfficer Anthony C. Manguiat said that with the resumptionof domestic operations, passenger as well as cargo traffic areexpected to further increase and boost the economy of La Unionand its neighboring provinces.“The San Fernando Airport will complement the alreadyexisting international seaport, thus making Poro Point an ideal sitefor commerce and tourism,” Manguiat said.PPMC Vice President for Airport Operations JosefaCatherine T. Bada said that the regular flights from Manila to SanFernando and back will be serviced by SEAIR every Monday,Wednesday and Friday. The Manila-San Fernando flight takessome 60 minutes and passengers can now book online throughthe website, www.flyseair.com.She also added that there are now 27 flying schools using theairport for their cross-country flights.For his part, Thunderbird Pilipinas Hotels and Resorts Inc.(TPHRI) Chief Operating Officer Fabio Moretti said that theresumption of flights bodes well for the tourism industry in LaUnion, Baguio, Pangasinan and Ilocos. Of the P565 millionallocated by the BCDA for the upgrade of the San FernandoAirport, TPHRI contributed P55 million.PPMC President Felix S. Racadio said the airport upgradeproject included hill removal and leveling, runway widening,overlay of taxiway, fencing, construction of a new control tower,renovation of fire station, and excavation of ditches and channels.“The upgrade meets the International Civil AviationOrganization (ICAO) standards,” Racadio said.The San Fernando Airportupgrading project is in line withPresident Gloria MacapagalArroyo’s agenda to transformNorthern Luzon into a superregion. The San FernandoAirport is expected to serve asthe country’s gateway to theNorth and is seen to create wideropportunities for investment,trade and employment.ALL SMILES. Thunderbird Executives led by Chief Operating Officer Fabio Moretti host the inauguralceremonies for the resumption of domestic flights by SEAIR Philippines at the San Fernando Airport. Withthem are PPMC executives headed by President Atty. Felix Racadio (right). Representing BCDA is Atty.Elvira Estanislao, Manager for Subsidiaries and Project Monitoring. Also gracing the occasion is La Union1st District congressman Victor F. Ortega with Provincial Board Members.5