Bernie Cahiles-Magkilat
Baguio investors have opposed the planned closure of the city’s airport in Loakan stressing it is crucial to maintain the only fastest access to this mountain resort and ensure its viability as an investment site.
Michael S. Kacho, operations director for the service center of the InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), said the proposed conversion of the Loakan Airport into an economic zone would only create problems on accessibility for those with businesses in Baguio.
"The Loakan Airport is one of the key infrastructure in Baguio. I want us to keep the airport. It’s too much of an asset to get rid of," added Kacho.
Kacho said he already raised this concern every change he gets to other investors and local government officials whom he said also shares his opinion.
"Whenever I have a chance to talk with local officials, I tell them of my views. But the word I got is it remains open," added Kacho.
At present, only Asian Spirit is regularly flying to Baguio four times a week. All flights are scheduled in the morning because of visibility problem in the area in the afternoon.
Instead of converting the Loakan airport, Kacho suggested to upgrade it into an all-weather airport but stressed that even if not, it is still a key asset.
It takes only 45 minutes to reach by air to Baguio from Manila.
The San Fernando International Airport inside the Poro Point Freeport Zone in La Union is an hour and 45 minutes away from Baguio. By land, Baguio is six hours away from Manila.
Kacho said that investors and their visitors have busy schedules to keep that they need faster travel time. The Baguio City Economic Zone hosts one of the country’s biggest investors and exporters including American chipmaker Texas Instruments and some of its suppliers including Moog Controls Corp.
Baguio is the second center of IHG in the country, the first being its Makati site located on the 28th and 29th floors of RCBC Plaza that is employing 1,000 workers doing higher value added services like web design, Makati is doing web design, sales, hotel facilities support, generation of sales report for its chain of hotels around the world.
IHG invested $ 7 million to upgrade an old housing unit inside Camp John Hay where over 350 people are now taking reservations of the InterContinental Hotels chain worldwide.
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