Vigan Airport gets upgrade, more improvements planned 

THE AIRPORT in Vigan City, now with a bigger passenger terminal building and expanded runway, was inaugurated Wednesday, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) announced.  

Vigan, the capital of Ilocos Sur province and a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its well-preserved Spanish colonial town center, is located about 403 kilometers north of Manila.  

The P79.56-million development project included the expansion and rehabilitation of the terminal building, construction of runway strip end and runway end safety area as well as turnaround pads, provision of water supply storage, and parking area, among others, according to CAAP, which manages the airport.   

“Vigan Airport is an asset to the city and the province of Ilocos Sur and will greatly boost the heritage city’s tourism,” CAAP Director General Jim C. Sydiongco said in a statement.  

CAAP and the Department of Transportation have laid out plans for further improvements, including the construction of a control tower building, power supply, and installation of communications and meteorological equipment system.   

CAAP said the upgraded Vigan Airport can accommodate 150 passengers at any given time, more than thrice its previous capacity of only 40 passengers. — MSJ