PGMA inaugurates Binalonan Airfield

Binalonan, Pangasinan (18 February) -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo took a breather from the politically-charged atmosphere by joining her townmates here celebrate their town fiesta last Saturday.

The President led the inauguration of the private-owned Binalonan Airfield and its facilities. With the President were Gov. Amado Espino Jr. and Binalonan mayor Ramon Guico Jr.

In her message at the airfield hangar, the President bared major projects for the province, one of which is the construction of an international airport. She did not mention the site. One proposal is to build the airport in Alaminos City while another is to locate it in Sta. Barbara.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (4th from left) leads the ceremonial ribbon cutting of the Binalonan Airfield. She is joined by (L-R) Pangasinan Governor Amado Espino, WCC Director Dr. Arlyn Grace Guico, WCC Aviation Company President and Binalonan Vice Mayor Capt. Ramon V. Guico III, PGMA, LMP National President and Binalonan Chief Executive Mayor Ramon N. Guico Jr., Education Secretary Jesli Lapuz, Pangasinan 4th District Representative Congresswoman Rachel Arenas, and Department of Transportation Undersecretary Aneli Lontoc.

Mrs. Arroyo said the North Luzon quadrangle needs airports for agricultural cargo. This she gathered from her talk with Department of Transportation and Communications officials regarding the medium-term development plan for Northern Luzon .

She added that the Air Transportation Office is prepared to give to the Binalonan airport a license to operate for agricultural cargo as Pangasinan is the biggest province in the North Luzon agri-business quadrangle.

The airfield, owned by the family of Mayor Ramon Guico of this town, offers pilot training, flight attendant course, and aircraft mechanic course. It operates under the WCC Aviation Company.