BAGUIO CITY – The City Government and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) will consult with concerned residents of Loakan Proper on the delineation of the established 75-meter buffer zone on both sides of the Loakan Airport for the possible dismantling of hundreds of structures constructed within the vicinity of the airport.
Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong informed city legislators and the affected Loakan residents during the regular session of the City Council last Monday that the city government is striving to implement appropriate mitigating measures that will significantly reduce the number of structures that will be demolished for the realization of the established buffer zone pursuant to Proclamation No. 1358.
He pointed out that only notices of violation is what had been issued by the City Buildings and Architecture Office (CBAO) to the residents that were found to have encroached in the buffer zone but not demolition orders yet against any of the structures in the area surrounding the Loakan Airport.
The city Chief Executive clarified that based on the pronouncements of CAAP officials during his previous meetings with them, the Loakan Airport was never closed for commercial operation but airline companies servicing the Baguio route that decided to abandon the same primarily because of safety issues in the airport that should be addressed by both the CAAP and the city government.
According to him, CAAP will initiate the removal of the illegal structures built by their personnel within the established airport buffer zone to show to the affected residents their commitment to work out the safety of the airport and convince airline companies to service the abandoned Baguio route that will help in boosting the arrival of high end foreign and domestic tourists to the city.
He cited that CAAP has no intention of closing the operation of the Loakan Airport because of its importance as the only available access to the city and the Cordilleras when all roads leading to the city are closed.
Of the total number of residents that had been issued notices of violation by the CBAO, 43 individuals who were found to have titles over their properties, 6 individuals were issued building permits and 1 person was issued occupancy permit, thus, the said titles and permits will have to undergo the required investigation to ascertain whether or not the same were fraudulently issued for future references.
CAAP personnel will be in town to revisit the established security and buffer zones of the airport which will be references when mitigating measures from the agency itself will be implemented to reduce the impact of the buffer zone to the residents that have constructed their structures in the different parts of the airport.
One of the common questions being asked by prospective investors in the city is the feasibility of the operation of the Loakan Airport as this will have an impact on their business in the city considering the importance of air travel in their operations.
By Dexter A. See
