Press Release
June 12, 2010

ANGARA URGES TO IMPROVE RURAL AIRPORTS TO PROGRESS ECONOMY

Senator Edgardo J. Angara urged to allow private franchises to develop a rural airport infrastructure network in the country.

"Rural development is a necessary strategy for national progress," he stressed. "Establishing rural airport infrastructure will encourage economic activity in the hinterlands by serving not only as transportation hubs but also as industrial, commercial and service centers. This provides countryside employment and uplifts rural standards of living," noted Angara, Chair of the Congressional Commission on Science and Technology and Engineering (COMSTE).

Angara seeks to provide speedy access between urban and rural areas with an air transport network complemented by the rehabilitation and maintenance of former or existing airports.

Many of the rural areas have no airports at all; if they do, they are inadequately or not maintained at all and are so difficult to service.

"These rural airports are usually short with unpaved with merely flattened, unattended airstrips with inadequate air safety personnel or equipment available. They have poor or no access roads; usually located away from towns due to topographical limits. The need to develop rural airports is ideal to give each town and city in the country their own airport or at least easy access to such," explained Angara.

Development of rural airports, Angara clarified, will permit speedy access and reasonable costs to transport passengers and cargo, increase commercial activity, improve domestic and international tourism and provide immediate access to emergency, rescue and disaster relief services.

Citing possible agriculture and structural damages that the rainy season might bring, Angara seeks to address more logistical issues that rural airport development will allow for. With roads blocked or collapsed, access to airports will ease the transport of relief goods and rescue operations.

"The private sector can initiate this kind of development and government to work hand in hand by providing proper incentives to do so," concluded Angara.

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