Laoag: Landowners affected by land acquisition for the Laoag International Airport expansion project were reminded on Tuesday to speed up the submission of their deed of sale requirements or their properties will be expropriated by the government.

According to Philippines News Agency, Evalaudia Duyor, officer-in-charge of the Provincial Assessors Office, stated that almost all of the affected landowners have complied with the requirements for the release of their payments except for a few. "Some of the landowners received full payment of their properties already but others have received their first half or 50 percent," Duyor noted, emphasizing that the concerned landowners must submit all the required property documents to receive compensation.

The provincial government on Monday afternoon released PHP3.2 million for the full and partial payment of at least three landowners. Last year, PHP300 million was released for the first batch of landowners who completed the requirements. Another release of payment is expected next week.

Duyor mentioned that the provincial government is considering expropriating lands from landowners who fail to submit the requirements by September. The Department of Transportation (DOTr) earlier approved about PHP900 million for site acquisition for the airport project, covering 58.47 hectares, 275 lots, and 62 residential buildings and other improvements located in Barangays Calayab, Apaya, and Gabu Sur in this city.

The provincial government has identified more than a hundred registered or declared owners or claimants of the affected lots, but some have yet to arrive at a settlement with the Ilocos Norte team tasked to talk with the concerned parties. Under the Marcos administration, the Laoag International Airport's runway is being expanded to 205 meters east and 170 meters west from the center lane to accommodate bigger aircraft and enhance the Ilocos Region's connectivity and mobility. This, however, needs the full cooperation of landowners to complete the project this year.