Lingayen airport expansion set for commercial flights

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan — The Lingayen airport runway may soon accommodate commercial flights after Gov. Amado Espino Jr. declared to pursue the development of a 455.23-meter runway expansion of the Lingayen airport located at barangay Libsong East, here.

Based on reports gathered from the Capitol, the existing 1,178.79 meters (1.17 kilometer) runway, will increase to around 1,634.02 meters or 1.63 kilometer to accommodate commercial flights.

Provincial Administrator Rafael Howard Baraan said with the immediate completion of the project, flights from Manila going to or from Hong Kong, Taipei, and other places can drop by here, then pick up or disembark passengers.

From Lingayen, the people of Pangasinan can also drive to Manila, he added.

Provincial Planning and Development Officer Benita Pizarro, on the other hand, said, “This venture will actually trigger the growth of businesses, increase tourist arrivals, and spur tourism and economic development of the province.”

“Very willing ang Provincial Government to improve road access leading to and fro the airport kapag na-develop na ang airport,” she added.

Even as she said the airport in Lingayen and the seaport, now being developed in Sual town on instruction of Gov. Espino, will drastically enhance the “competitive advantage of the province.”

And creation of job opportunities for Pangasinenses with the presence of Eco-tourism Zone, which will soon be developed in barangays Sabangan, Estanza, Malimpuec and Capandanan, here.

Pizarro said Gov. Espino is eyeing the full swing development of three special mega-projects (airport, seaport and eco-tourism zone) as legacy of his third and last term as governor of the province.

Libsong East barangay Chairman Rogelio Altre said his constituents are supportive to the project, noting: “Makakatulong din ito sa ating probinsya.”