SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union—The state-owned Bases Conversion and Development Authority will pursue the upgrade of the existing airport and seaport here to international standards to help boost the development potential of Northern Luzon as a “national food basket” in the future.
Vivencio Dizon, BCDA president and chief executive officer, said the studies for upgrading the Poro Point international airport are still under way, while the seaport needs to be converted into an international port to boost the trading of products in local and international markets.
“We are in the process of putting things in order. We will try to come out with a comprehensive development plan for the Poro Point airport, the seaport, and the identified economic zone within six to eight months, and we will pursue whatever the development plan will be for the benefit of the people in Northern Luzon,” Dizon stressed.
Poro Point received a P50-million grant from the Private Public Partnership Center for a feasibility study on the developments needed to maximize the use of the BCDA property.
One recommendation for Poro Point airport is to widen its runways to accommodate larger commercial planes flying into Northern Luzon, thus bringing more tourists and products for local traders.
Dizon said the thrust of the Duterte administration is to maximize the development potential of identified growth areas to generate additional employment and increase sources of livelihood for the people in the communities surrounding economic zones.
BCDA is inclined to pursue its mandate of improving the former American military bases like Poro Point in the different parts of the country by implementing “appropriate development projects” that will contribute to boosting the economy around the zones.
Poro Point is a strategic economic zone within the Ilocos Region that will serve to significantly improve economic activities because of its airport and a seaport, Dizon said.