By Leilanie G. Adriano
Staff reporter
LAOAG CITY—The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines has cited the Laoag International Airport (LIA) for its green project initiatives.
Under the Group A category, the Laoag International Airport placed second runner-up next to Puerto Princesa and Iloilo International Airports.
In support of the green airport concept and energy efficiency enhancement to reduce airport-wide carbon intensity, LIA’s Civil Aviation Manager Ronald Estabillo said in an interview that the Laoag airport continues to develop and improve for the better.
Among the green project initiatives of the airport include the installation of solar-powered street lights, planting of bougainvillea plants and trees from the entrance gate of the airport to the terminal building including its water saving measures and proper disposal of wastes.
According to Mr. Estabillo, this is not the first time that the Laoag airport received the award as they had been green award champion in 2014 and the cleanest and greenest airport in 2012.
The contest was part of the 10th anniversary celebration of CAAP, underlining the theme, “Excellence in the Skies.”
Meanwhile, the Baguio airport which Mr. Estabillo also handles, became this year’s green award champion under the Group D category.
According to him, criteria for the selection were green airport promotions, or the inclusion of ornamental and flowering plants within the airport compound; management of electrical power utilization, such as the use of renewable power sources; and water management, including waste segregation.
“If you see our streetlights, they are solar,” Mr. Estabillo said, adding, “we’re also thankful to the provincial government, because they are behind the improved landscape and they are the ones who sowed the plants here.”
The annual search aims for better understanding of the share and projections of international aviation CO2 emissions, enhanced cooperation between all aviation stakeholders that can positively reflect on their operational areas, and the identification of the most relevant mitigation actions.
LIA is the only airport in Ilocos Norte and geographically the northernmost airport in the entire country. It is a popular gateway for Chinese tourists to the province and averaged almost 185,000 passengers per year between 2010 and 2016.
Temporary Aerodrome Certificate
Mr. Estabillo also shared that LIA had recently earned a temporary Aerodrome Certificate, which had taken almost two years of preparations and internal audits.
“This basically means that we have met international standards for aircraft and airport safety and security,” he explained, saying that the certificate is similar to a certification by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
He said that the only hindrance for LIA to achieve the long-term certificate was their lack of land area south of the runway, which is at 150 meters on each side.
“We have already set mitigating actions for us to meet the standard for our airstrip,” he assured, such as coordination with pilots and airlines to ensure consistent implementation of safety and security procedures.
As to the lack of land area, he shared that the implementation of the project to purchase more land and comply with the requirements of the long-term Aerodrome Certificate through a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the PGIN. (With a report from PGIN-CMO)