Binalonan is “aeronautical highway” of the north
BINALONAN—President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo formally launched on Friday, what she referred to as “Aeronautical Highway of the North” with Binalonan, the hometown of her mother, the late First Lady Evangelina Macaraeg Macapagal, as the gateway.
The launching took place at the private Binalonan Airfield owned by the family of Binalonan Mayor Ramon Guico Sr., current president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines.
The Binalonan Airfield is used for the family’s World City College (WCC) Aviation Company, a flying school.
The aeronautical highway is a spin-off from the ‘Sky Pasada’, a network of flight services connecting towns and cities in the north, which previously had no links by air transport.
‘Sky Pasada’ has made flights available between Pangasinan, Isabela and Batanes using 19-seater planes. It was established by the WCC Aviation Company with Guico’s son, Capt. Ramon V. Guico III, as chief pilot and founding president.
The “aeronautical highway” in the north was set up with the help of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, Civil Aeronautic Board and local government officials.
Guico III told President Arroyo that with the Sky Pasada servicing the aeronautical highway in the North, more and frequent exchanges of goods and products, and tourism opportunities among partner towns can be expected.
The aeronautical highway now connects the town of Binalonan to Divilacan, Cauayan, Palanan, Maconacon and Calayan in Isabela; and Basco and Itbayat in Batanes.
‘Sky Pasada’ has cut the 19-hour travel time by road or boat to the destinations to just 18 minutes of flight time.
“It is a commitment of Sky Pasada to provide its partners and sister municipalities an affordable, safe and fast air transportation and through this, we have recognized these underserved destinations and underserved airports,” said Guico III, who is also Binalonan vice mayor.–LM
Share your Comments or Reactions
Powered by Facebook Comments
