Barlo Airstrip

Economic reasons. Barlo Airstrip was a private, single-purpose airfield built and maintained by Benguet Corporation to serve its Barlo Copper Mine. Its existence was entirely dependent on the mine's operations. When the mine was shut down and placed into 'care and maintenance' status, the airstrip lost its sole economic purpose and was subsequently abandoned.

The site is completely defunct and abandoned as an airfield. As of the latest satellite imagery, the faint outline of the north-south runway is still visible, but the land is entirely overgrown with grass and shrubs. Portions of the former runway appear to be used for informal, small-scale agriculture or are simply fallow ground. There is no remaining aviation infrastructure, such as buildings, hangars, or markings, and the surface is unusable for any type of aircraft.

The airstrip's significance is industrial and logistical rather than public or military. It was a critical piece of infrastructure for the Barlo open-pit copper mine during its operational years in the 1970s. The airstrip facilitated the transport of key personnel, engineers, high-value spare parts, documents, and emergency medical evacuations to and from a relatively remote location. Operations would have consisted of light, short takeoff and landing (STOL) capable aircraft, typical for corporate and resource industry use in the Philippines. The unpaved, dirt runway was approximately 914 meters (3,000 feet) long.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening Barlo Airstrip. Its revival is considered highly improbable. Any potential reopening would be entirely dependent on a future, large-scale recommissioning of the Barlo Copper Mine, an event for which there are no current or foreseeable plans. Provincial and national aviation development focuses on larger, existing regional airports, making investment in a remote, single-industry airstrip like Barlo a non-priority.