International Flight to and From Iloilo

By Annabel J. Petinglay

President Benigno Aquino III has assured the Ilonggos of support in terms of infrastructure for making the New Iloilo Airport in Sta. Barbara-Cabatuan towns be able to cater to international flights. 

President Aquino, who is here Friday as keynote speaker of the 1st Philippine International River Summit closing program, further said that the government will find a way to sustain the airport as the gateway for international flights.

The Iloilo airport is being proposed to be opened to international flights October or November of this year with the Cebu Pacific Airlines already having manifested interest to launch regular flights from Hong Kong and Singapore and vice versa, according to Department of Tourism Regional Director Helen Catalbas.

It is also intended to serve as gateway for domestic flights from Puerto Princesa, General Santos, and Cagayan to Iloilo and then to the foreign countries Hong Kong and Singapore.

President Aquino said that once the Iloilo airport is opened to international flights it could help reach the targeted 10 million tourist arrivals by 2016 just before he steps down from office.

The President said that from the average three million tourist arrivals, it is being expected to increase to 4.8 million or 5 million this year with the first quarter tourist arrivals already registering more than 400,000.

Meanwhile, Department of Transportation and Communications Secretary Mar Roxas said that as instructed by the President, they are now pursuing the "pocket open skies policy" for the for Iloilo airport so international flights could come in.

He further said that the Iloilo airport is now complete except for the actual direct international flights, which Ilonggo Sen. Franklin M. Drilon and other Ilonggo political leaders are now actively working on in terms of promotion.

He added that the summit is a good move in promoting in Iloilo as the international conference center so to attract tourist visitors to come, which would sustain the international flights.