Screenshot of a page on en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Fernando_Airport_(Philippines)

MANILA, Philippines - The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) will pursue the redevelopment of the San Fernando, La Union airport to attract tourism and investments in northern Luzon.

BCDA president and chief executive officer Arnel Paciano D. Casanova said at the recently held stakeholders' meeting in San Fernando that the redevelopment of the San Fernando airport will push through.

“Developments are coming to the north, and having an operational airport here will bring in more visitors and investors," he said, according to a November 29 statement of the BCDA.

The city government envisions San Fernando to be the “prime city of Ilocandia” by year 2020, while BCDA president and chief executive officer Arnel Paciano D. Casanova said the city can be the tourism and investment gateway to the northern parts of the country.

Local officials said the project will reduce travel time to Baguio City, which is about an hour away from San Fernando, and boost tourism and trade in the region.

Casanova said BCDA’s plan for the airport includes the resumption of commercial flights, renovation of facilities, and the operation of the airport and a mall.

The San Fernando Airport is part of the Poro Point Freeport Zone (PPFZ) being managed by the Poro Point Management Corporation (PPMC), a subsidiary of the BCDA.

It was extensively used as a landing strip by American forces when Wallace Air Station was still in operation. It was re-opened in 2010 before it was closed again.

The BCDA had earlier said it aims to bid out the project to the private sector under the Aquino administration’s Public-Private Partnership (PPP)scheme. - Rappler.com