Aklan execs hail Caticlan airport plan

Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines – Aklan officials and tourism stakeholders have welcomed the proposed expansion and improvement of the Caticlan airport, the nearest gateway to the world-famous Boracay island resort, to accommodate bigger and more planes.

In a press statement, Representative Florencio Miraflores said the project would solve the problem of accessibility of Boracay to tourists, most of who pass through the airport of Kalibo, the provincial capital, and travel for one-and-a-half hours to get to Caticlan.

Caticlan airport’s obsolete facilities and short runway allow the landing of only small airplanes.

Governor Carlito Marquez said the lack of world-class transport had hindered the full development of the country’s tourism industry.

Special attention

The governor has prioritized tourism as Aklan’s development thrust, the statement said. Boracay, as one of the major tourist destinations in the Philippines, should be given special attention by the national government, it said.

He said the drawing power of Boracay had already been proven for many years and should take precedence in “the use of scant resources for tourism development.”

Fast-track project

The two Aklan leaders said they would seek the help of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in “fast-tracking” the Caticlan airport project. They belied reports that local officials here were against the implementation of the project, the statement said.

The expansion and improvement of the airport will be undertaken with the highest consideration for passenger safety and environmental protection, the statement said.