3 N.Luzon airports closed due to ‘Julian’

Manila: Three airports in Northern Luzon have closed due to damage incurred from Super Typhoon Julian, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said Wednesday. "So far po iyong Basco, Palanan at Bagabag airport, closed po ang operation niyan (So far, Basco, Palanan and Bagabag airports are closed for operations," CAAP spokesperson Eric Apolonio said during the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing. Basco Airport is in Batanes, Palanan Airport is in Isabela, and Bagabag Airport is in Nueva Vizcaya, areas that are badly hit by Julian. Apolonio, however, said CAAP follows a procedure and is prepared against tropical cyclones. "Ito nga ho iyong dahilan kung bakit wala gaanong na-damage na property ng aming mga paliparan diyan sa Norte (This is the reason why there was not much property damage in airports among the airports in the North)," he said. Asked what specific damage he was referring to, Apolonio told the Philippine News Agency there is no final report yet on the matter. Apolonio sent to rep orters photos of damaged roofs of the passenger terminal buildings of the Basco and Itbayat airports. There is an ongoing clearing operation at Basco Airport in preparation for flight operations on Thursday between 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Coordination is also being done for the possible opening of Basco Airport for military and rescue operations on Wednesday to help the residents, Apolonio said. Meanwhile, Apolonio said normal operations are implemented in Tuguegarao and Cauayan airports. Source: Philippines News Agency