Loakan airport 2020 re-opening eyed

The Baguio City government is planning to rehabilitate the Loakan Airport in Benguet to rake in more investors.

Mayor Benjamin Magalong said he was inspired by a recent official trip to China where his hosts told him an airport is sure to lure in more business ventures.

“We will look for a third party, a group that will fully oversee the management, will have direct management of the facility,” Magalong said. “Hopefully early next year, we can re-open (for commercial flights).”

Magalong has met with National Economic Development Authority chief Ernesto Pernia who is amenable to the proposed rehabilitation plan and its funding.

The previous city administration proposed P492 million for the airport.

The Loakan Airport, the only airport in the Cordillera region, was built in 1934. It stopped operations after the 7.7 magnitude earthquake that hit Luzon on 16 July 1990.