By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet

Investing in infrastructure that drives growth and progress is the catalyst for a progressive nation, actively contributing to improved regional connectivity, tourism, and economic progress.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. led the groundbreaking and time-capsule laying ceremony of the Passenger Terminal Building (PTB) at the Caticlan Airport in Aklan this Monday, July 14, paving the way for the expansion of the vital air terminal that serves as the tourists’ gateway to the white sand beaches of Boracay.

He cites the commencement of the new airport building’s construction as a significant milestone in his administration’s relentless pursuit to decongest the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) by upgrading key air transportation hubs in various regions across the country.

“We are slowly putting together the building blocks of our policy; of opening up our tourist areas, our business areas to international travelers without having to go through the Manila Airport,” President Marcos said.

“Although Manila Airport is improving…it would be much easier for our tourists or for any travelers na diretso na sila dito sa Caticlan,” the President added.

The two-storey PTB will have a total floor area of 36,470 square meters, featuring six passenger boarding bridges and 36 individual check-in counters. It is projected to handle seven million passengers per year and is expected to be completed by 2027.

Megawide Construction Corporation (MCC) is in charge of the construction and design of the Caticlan PTB. The airport is owned and operated by Trans Aire Development Holdings Corp. (TADHC), a subsidiary of San Miguel Corporation (SMC) Infrastructure.

A precedent for the future of domestic air travel

Meanwhile, President Marcos praised the significant contribution of tourism to the Philippine economy, noting that this sector contributes close to eight percent of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

“The influx of people, of travelers, is going to be a big boost to the local [and] national economy. [It] is something that we want to increase, and that is why these projects that we have are also very important,” the President declared.

Likewise, the Chief Executive said that the expansion of the Caticlan Airport is among the roster of regional airports that are bound to receive upgrades and further expansion, which include Iloilo, Bohol, and Siargao, without divulging further details.

The Caticlan PTB is part of a broader journey to bring the Philippines once again to the forefront of the global stage, as President Marcos envisions the Southeast Asian nation as “a place where people can invest, where people can come to have a vacation, where prospecting entrepreneurs can come and do business for the benefit of themselves and of the country.”

In turn, improved regional airports would help in redirecting inbound tourist flights to their respective destinations without stirring up transport and logistical bottlenecks at the country’s flagship airport in Manila.

“The idea is to open up the Philippines, not necessarily only through Manila, but on international flights coming from Europe, from Southeast Asia, coming directly to the tourist destinations,” the President concluded.

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