LINGAYEN–An airport in Alaminos City will be just fine, says Governor Amado Espino Jr.

The governor, who had earlier expressed support for the construction of an airport in Sta. Barbara town, has clarified that he is not against the choice of Alaminos as site of an international airport.

The national government has included the airport in Alaminos, home of the popular Hundred Islands tourist destination, in the list of planned mega projects under the North Luzon Agri-business Quadrangle.

He told newsmen that is not objecting to Alaminos as the location of the project, stressing that “wherever it will be located, I like it because I am the governor of Pangasinan.”

Espino gave the statement to assure Alaminos City Mayor Hernani Braganza who is of the impression that the governor is against the proposal.

“That was a wrong assumption. In fact, I am even encouraging it,” said Espino who recognizes the Hundred Islands as the number one tourist spot in the province.

“It is not true that I objected,” he said.

But Espino admitted that he approached President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who made the announcement about the Alaminos airport during her State of the Nation Address, to ask why she seemingly forgot about Lingayen, the capital town of the province.

The President said it was Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., representative of the Fourth District, who told her that Lingayen is not feasible because of the crosswind from the Lingayen Gulf.

“I asked Speaker de Venecia about this but he pointed to former President Fidel Ramos as having said this,” he said.

On the proposal that Sta. Barbara be made an alternative site for the airport, Espino admitted having floated it because of its proximity to Manaoag, also a popular tourist destination being a pilgrimage site for Catholics.

“What, anyway, is the top tourist attraction in Pangasinan? Isn’t it Manaoag? Espino asked, adding that Manaoag is only 15 minutes away from Sta. Barbara.

He also pointed out that there is an available 186 hectare of flatlands between Sta. Barbara, Urdaneta City and Villasis, which can be tapped as site of the international airport.

Espino believes that an international airport in Pangasinan can serve as an alternative for the airport in Baguio City, he added.

Asked about the perennial flooding problem in Sta. Barbara which could prove to be a major obstacle, the governor simply laughed.—LM