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TOURISM CHIEF WELCOMES CEBU PORT AND TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE, PPP AIRPORT PROJECTS FOR BOHOL, DUMAGUETE, SIARGAO
With global and domestic demand for Philippine tourism rising, Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco welcomed significant milestones today to improve tourism infrastructure across the country’s beloved and award-winning island destinations.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, Tourism Secretary Frasco, along with other cabinet members, government officials and executives from the private sector, witnessed at Malacañang Palace on Wednesday (December 18) the signing of documents for airport projects for Bohol, Siargao, and Dumaguete, and a new port and transport system for Cebu to be carried out through PPP.
Under the Build Better More program of the Marcos Administration, a new Cebu International Container Port and the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT) project will be implemented, which will provide Cebuanos, including tourists, with a reliable, efficient transport system, and decongest current port facilities to welcome cruise opportunities and inter-island travel.
“We warmly welcome and fully support the development of improvement of airport infrastructure in Bohol, Siargao, and Dumaguete, and the new international port and bus rapid transit system for Cebu. By instituting world-class facilities on land, air, and sea, we elevate quality of life for our fellow Filipinos and increase the global competitiveness of the Philippines in terms of tourism and trade, assuring that these island destinations continue to shine as vibrant hubs of culture, commerce, and sustainable growth,” Secretary Frasco said.
The Tourism Chief added, “We commend President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s transformative leadership which is ushering tourism-focused investments from the private sector as it vastly improves connectivity, enhances convenience, and ensures the equality of tourism development across the country, which are the foundation our tourism development strategy.”
Secretary Frasco also emphasized the importance of airports and seaports as “vital gateways for travelers, representing both the first and last impressions tourists will have of our country, so we should make it as memorable and positive as the experience provided by our tourism destinations and stakeholders.”
“Consequently, it is imperative that we improve and modernize these critical points of entry. This undertaking will surely complement our ongoing efforts to enhance air routes and increase the number of available air seats, which ultimately drives more visitors to our beautiful destinations,” she said.
She also declared the DOT’s full commitment to working collaboratively with other government agencies, particularly the DOTr, as well as local government units, noting that “Our collective goal is to ensure that these infrastructure projects create a positive experience for tourists, encouraging longer stays and repeat visits, consequently increasing livelihood for local businesses, and the communities that thrive through tourism.”
Under the agreement involving the Bohol Panglao International Airport, Aboitiz Capital will take over the management of the country’s first “eco-airport” starting June 2025. The airport was inaugurated in 2018 and contains green and sustainable features such as natural ventilation and solar power.
According to President Marcos Jr., the turnover of the management of the Bohol Panglao International Airport – to be done in two phases until 2030 – will result in a surge in its capacity, accommodating more aircraft passengers. “By 2026, its capacity will increase from two million to 2.5 million passengers a year, and by 2030 we will reach almost four million passengers,” he said in his speech.
He added that more tourists coming to Bohol through the Bohol-Panglao International Airport would mean “we can provide seamless travel to a lot of tourists, which translates to more jobs for Boholanos, especially in the hotel and restaurant industries.” “This project is expected to generate P15 million in annual revenue during its first five years, rising to 200 million a year by the end of the concession period.”
Data from the Bohol Panglao International Airport as of November 3, 2024, revealed that aside from flights from Manila, Clark, Iloilo, Davao, and El Nido in Palawan, it hosts flights from four airlines in airports in Incheon and Busan, South Korea.
Meanwhile, the PPP projects that aim to modernize the airports in Dumaguete and Siargao would be the DOTr’s “first bundled PPP project wherein more viable projects will be leveraged to mobilize private sector investments and expertise into less viable assets,” explained Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista.
The government recognized both Dumaguete – a long-established “center for education and commerce that is rich in history and culture” – and world-renowned surfing destination Siargao “face the same challenge that is limited connectivity,” according to the President.
“The new Dumaguete airport will create more opportunities for students, workers, and businesses, while the new Siargao airport will help support tourism and trade,” he added.
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) reported that the current Siargao airport could host an average of 28 to 30 flights from three airlines every day in December 2024. According to the DOT, Siargao welcomed 529,822 tourists in 2023 and 325,053 visitors from January to September 2024.
In coming up with such PPP projects for airports in the Philippines, the Chief Executive declared, “Let us remember these projects are not just structures. They are representative of every Filipino’s dream of more comfortable travel, better opportunities, and a clearer path towards their goals and dreams.”
The new PPP projects for airports came following the turnover of the management of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to the New NAIA Infrastructure Corporation, as well as the signing of the concession agreement with Aboitiz InfraCapital for the Laguindingan International Airport in Cagayan de Oro City, according to the DOTr.
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Photo credit: CPA GM Francisco Comendador
Photo credit: CPA GM Francisco Comendador
Published:December 18, 2024
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