Int’l airport to rise in Bohol

Plans are now under way for the construction of a world-class international airport in Panglao, Bohol as part of the comprehensive program of the government to amplify accessibility to other parts of Visayas and Mindanao with the end view of boosting local and foreign tourism industry in the country.

Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) general manager and chief executive officer Robert Dean Barbers announced this development when he briefed all concerned government agencies during the initial coordinating meeting of the Panglao Tourism Infrastructure Program (PTSIP) aimed at discussing the status of the project, and delineation of responsibilities of each concerned government entities.

Government agencies that attended the meeting to signify their support and interest in the said project were the Department of Transportation and Communication (DoTC), Air Transportation Office (ATO), the local government of the province of Bohol. Moreover, Chairman of the Committee for Tourism, Bohol 1st District Representative Edgar Chatto likewise attended the meeting.

"This is welcome news amidst all the political bickering engulfing our nation. Our people are wanting for positive developments that would boost our economy. The construction of the Panglao International Airport would mean creating more job opportunities to the people in the Visayas region. We will be opening brighter prospects in order to stimulate economic activities in the surrounding provinces of Bohol. Furthermore, it would now be more accessible for tourists to visit these areas once Panglao International Airport becomes fully operational," Barbers said.

For his part, Cong. Chatto considered this project as a gift to the Boholanos. "Soon our province will be known in the world map as one of the major tourist destinations in the Philippines alongside Manila, Cebu and Davao with the development of the Panglao International Airport. Chartered flights from other countries will open new frontiers of opportunity for our tourism. I consider this a quantum leap to further attract foreign tourists to visit our country particularly the Visayas and Mindanao regions once this airport functions," Chatto said.

Barbers earlier announced that tourist arrivals in the country have been steadily rising since the first half of this year by 13 percent with Chinese tourists topping the list with an increase of 140 percent in arrivals. The Koreans ranked second followed by the Americans, Australians and Japanese tourists.

Barbers added that with the development of the airport, the island of Panglao would be another potential prime tourist destination in Asia. "Indeed, Panglao boasts one of the finest beaches in the country. Likewise it is also one of the best dive sites in the world. The Balicasag Dive Resort, which is owned and managed by the PTA, will also benefit from this project and in the process would continuously improve to better provide the ever changing and dynamic developments in our tourism industry," Barbers explained.

Up until now, the Cebu-Bohol route has been considered an obstacle to many tourists since accessibility to traverse these islands is only via sea crafts. Barbers said that with the opening of the Panglao International Airport, accessibility for inter-island transfers via air, land and sea will thus be completed and would open all avenues to visit the beautiful and exciting sites that our country has to offer.

Barbers added that the development of this airport would also bring about the construction of a comprehensive solid waste management facility in anticipation of the influx of more tourists in the island of Bohol once the airport becomes fully operational.