LAL-LO, Cagayan, Aug. 19 (PIA) — The town mayor has expressed his gratitude to Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) Secretary Raul Lambino for the continuous development of the Cagayan North International Airport (CNIA) here.

During Royal Air’s inaugural direct flight that took off from Macau to CNIA yesterday, Mayor Oliver Pascual said he is very grateful to the CEZA for choosing Lal-lo as the location of the CNIA which according to him is originally planned to be established in Santa Ana town.

“Napakagandang opportunity sa aming mga kababayan ang CNIA because there will be more possible job opportunities na maidudulot nito as investors will come in,” the mayor said.

With the presence of the airport, Mayor Pascual revealed that there were already many investors willing to invest in the area even before the airport has been established.

“Even before na iniisip palang na itayo itong airport, marami ng gustong mag-invest. As of now, nasa process kami talking to other investors na magtayo ng iba’t ibang pwedeng pagkakitaan sa Lal-lo,” he added.

Such investments, according to Mayor Pascual, include hotels, industrial factories, textile factory, among others.

“We are really hoping na maging positive ang outcome ng pakikipagusap since the time ni former Mayor Florante Pascual,” he added.

Promotion of tourism

With the airport’s inaugural domestic flight, access to tourism destinations in Lal-lo and nearby towns is more convenient.

“We are ready to cater more tourists,” the mayor said.

“Tourism is part of my 10-point agenda. Even before the previous administration, we intended budgets for the improvement of the tourist spots in Lal-lo such as road access, its improvement, and preservation,” he added.

He said road concreting leading to the town’s tourist spots such as Japanese Tunnel and Shell Maiden Site is underway.

On heritage sites preservation, Mayor Pascual said the local government unit has initiated many initiatives to preserve and improve these sites such as the Tocalana Ruins.

“We see to it na napapangalagaan talaga ang mga heritage site. Lal-lo is very historical municipality. We see to it at the LGU na napapangalagaan at mame-maintain lahat ng mga ito,” he added.

More opportunities for Lal-lo

With this international airport and business establishments soon to rise in Lal-lo , Mayor Pascual hopes that these are big factors in the town’s bid to restore its cityhood.

“Mas nagiging mas malapit sa katotohanan na mai-restore ang cityhood ng Lal-lo. We are hoping that this will help, [opening of airport], pagkakaroon ng bagong trabahao, pagkakaron ng maraming investment,” he said.

During the Spanish colonial period, Lal-lo was known as the City of Nueva Segovia and was the seat of the Diocese of Nueva Segovia before it was moved to Vigan in Ilocos Sur.

Mayor Pascual said it is the hope of the LGU to rename Lal-lo back to its former name and reclassify the municipality again as a component city. (MDCT/PIA-2)

Lal-lo Mayor Oliver Pascual (Photo courtesy from his page)

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