The airport project involved the construction of a 2,200 metres (7,200 ft) runway with a width of 45 miles (72 km), following the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization.

The international airport accommodates large aircraft such as the Airbus A319-100 and Boeing regional jets of comparable size.

Because of its distance from Manila and the constant threat of the Cagayan River's rampaging waters, however, the Diocese of Nueva Segovia was transferred to Vigan in Ilocos Sur province in 1758.

The diocese's name went along with the transfer to Vigan and to avoid confusion, Bishop Miguel Garcia requested that Nueva Segovia and its suburbs renamed back to Lal-lo.

The historical document originally signed by King Philip was not found, even after sending a research delegation to Madrid.

[9] There was a move in the Philippine Congress to regain its cityhood as a component city, and also rename the municipality back to its original name, Nueva Segovia.

Board member Maria Olivia Pascual said that researchers had found a Spanish document that declared the municipality as a city.

According to Pascual, a bill seeking the restoration of the city status of Lal-lo (the former Ciudad Nueva Segovia) could be filed again through the efforts of First District Representative Juan Ponce Enrile, Jr.[9] As recently as 2018, vice mayor Oliver Pascual has said that the establishment of Northern Cagayan International Airport in the municipality would be "a great boost" in its bid for the restoration of its city status.

In 2023, the government identified Lal-lo airport as a venue for American military forces as part of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).

Poverty incidence of Lal-lo Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24] Lal-lo, belonging to the first legislative district of the province of Cagayan, is governed by a mayor designated as its local chief executive and by a municipal council as its legislative body in accordance with the Local Government Code.