This was learned from Undersecretary Hermenegildo Dumlao, executive director of the North Luzon Growth Quadrangle Commission (Northquad), who said that the Poro Point Management Corp. (PPMC) is now accepting technical documents and proposals for the upgrading work.
The deadline for the submission of proposals is May 8, Dumlao said.
"Northquad fully supports the immediate rehabilitation of the airport to boost trade and tourism in the North," the Northquad chief told The Star.
Earlier, President Arroyo ordered the permanent closure of the Loakan airport in Baguio City so that its runway will be utilized for the expansion of the Baguio Special Economic Zone.
This was prompted by a growing number of investors wanting to locate their manufacturing firms in the country’s summer capital, it was learned.
Mrs. Arroyo said the San Fernando airport in Poro Point owing to its proximity to Baguio City would serve as the travel and shipment point for Baguio as well as other areas in Northern Luzon.
It was learned that there are available funds for the airport project called "Upgrading of the San Fernando Airport, Phase 1."
The detailed engineering phase of the project is 100 percent complete according to Dumlao.
This developed as congressional leaders of Northern Luzon led by Rep. Eric Singson, president of the Northern Luzon Alliance, and Rep. Conrado Estrella III, chairman of the NLGQA special committee in the House, urged President Arroyo to cause the extension of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac expressway from La Paz, Tarlac to Rosario, La Union.
They said the extension will boost tourism and business activities in Tarlac and Pangasinan particularly in the San Roque multipurpose project complex, Binalonan-Urdaneta-Manaoag pilgrimage area, and San Fabian-Hundred Islands tourism estate.