La Union airport to become international under PPP

MANILA, Philippines - The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) is looking to develop the Poro Point Freeport Zone in San Fernando, La Union  as an international airport.

BCDA president Arnel Casanova said in a statement Friday that the conversion of the Poro Point gateway has recently been approved for funding by the government's Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) Center.

The BCDA chief, however, did not mention how much has been allotted for the new international gateway project.

"We are confident in the expertise of the PPP Center to take the lead in bidding out the development of the Poro Point San Fernando Airport," Casanova said.

Casanova, who is also BCDA chief executive, said that Poro Point's proximity to Southeast Asian neighbors makes it an ideal entryway for those markets.

The freeport is only an hour and a half  away from Hong Kong, Vietnam and Taipei, and three and a half hours from Japan Singapore and Korea. It is also relatively close to Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia which are only four hours away.

While  accommodating international flights, the airport will also serve as gateway to La Union, Baguio, Ilocos and other Northern Luzon tourist destinations, Casanova said.

He said  Poro Point's current facilities will be upgraded to meet the International Civil Aviation Organization requirements.

"An airport terminal shopping mall will be constructed similar to Changi Airport of Singapore, but much smaller in scale," Casanova said.

BCDA is currently preparing the bidding process and targeting to start the construction of the project by 2015.