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SMC seeks to redevelop Loakan Airport, build elevated Baguio highway


Diversified conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC) has set its eyes on Baguio City, where it was looking to develop at least two infrastructure projects — an elevated highway, and the rehabilitation of the Loakan Airport.

In a text message, SMC President and COO Ramon Ang said SMC would submit an unsolicited proposal to rehabilitate and reopen the Loakan airport to commercial flights.

Ang's confirmation comes after Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong revealed that the businessman had expressed his intent to pursue the projects during a Thursday-October 24 meeting.

"RSA expressed interest to operate and manage the Loakan Airport and offered to build an elevated highway 'traffic reliever' around the city," Magalong said in a Facebook post.

"His technical experts will prepare the design and will formally submit the unsolicited proposal in due time," he elaborated.

GMA News Online reached out to Ang for more details on the planned projects, but information on such proposals were not immediately available.

Magalong earlier this month had urged the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to shell out P160 million to revive the Loakan Airport.

This comes as the mayor said PAL Express, a subsidiary of flag carrier Philippine Airlines, had expressed interest to operate five aircraft at the local airport.

Prior to its interest in developing the Loakan airport, SMC had been formally awarded the contract to build and operate the P735-billion New Manila International Airport in Bulakan, Bulacan.

SMC earlier this year also expressed plans to build a P35-billion new water source that would provide consumers up to 38,000 million liters per day (MLD). — Jon Viktor Cabuenas/DVM, GMA News

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