ALAMINOS CITY—With funding for the construction of the airport in Alaminos already included in the Annual General Appropriations Act starting this year, city officials are optimistic that the facility will be able to start operations before the end of President Benigno Aquino III’s term in 2016.

Alaminos City Administrator Wilmer Panabang said land acquisition for the 150-hectare airport is now almost complete and construction of an access road from the highway to the airport is ongoing.

At least P150 million was initially released by the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) for land acquisition alone while the construction of the access road is being funded by a P21 million budget from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

Panabang said city officials are confident that the Aquino administration will complete the airport as it is considered a priority project for tourism in the Hundred Islands National Park and Pangasinan as a whole.

It takes about five hours by land transport from Manila to the Hundred Islands, while air travel will only be about 45 minutes.

With a planned three-kilometer runway suited for big planes, the Alaminos Airport will start with domestic flights and eventually open for international services similar to the Laoag International Airport in Ilocos Norte.

“Definitely when it finally opens, it will be bigger than the Laoag International Airport which is only 75 hectares,” Panabang said.

Panabang added that two airlines have already signified their intention to service the Manila-Alaminos-Manila route.

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