Councilor and committee chair on tourism and beautification, Al Ryan Alejandre (davaotoday.com file photo by Paulo C. Rizal)
DAVAO CITY— To accommodate the huge pack of tourist coming in and out in the city, Councilor Al Ryan Alejandre said the City Council would seek additional local and international flights in Francisco Bangoy International Airport here.
In a privileged speech in the City Council session on Tuesday, August 2, Alejandre said that there was a Davao International Connectivity Inter-agency meeting last Friday to seek additional local and international flights here.
He said that they tackled on the response of the agencies on the Resolution 010-16 series of 2016 in terms of requesting the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), Department of Tourism (DoT), for additional local and international flights in the city.
In the inter-agency meeting was attended by key officials from DOTC, DOT, City Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) and the different airlines such as the Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines, Air Asia, Silk Air. City government officials were also present.
“DOT and DOTC answered our request. These agencies have made a pre-announcement that Davao will be accessible to international and domestic tourist,” Alejandre said.
“Airlines will provide information to the key government offices under the present roots development program and future plans to chart the development of the tourism,” he said.
He added that they will also “revisit the gaps identified by the airport inspection team created by the Regional Development Council (RDC).”
The government offices and regional development bodies will work on the tourism and transportation in the needs identified by the airport inspection committee, said Alejandre.
The meeting also aimed to align the programs of the national and local government units and to provide incentive programs for international carriers.
Alejandre said that the development of the city was also highlighted during the meeting as the number of tourists increases after former mayor Rodrigo Duterte won the Presidency.
Airport improvement
However, Alejandre said that the DOT agreed that one of the issues that the city faces is its connection to the international hubs and local destinations.
“There was a proposal to improve our airport. CAAP informed us about the development program and future plans including of engaging into Public-Private Partnership (PPP) to improve the airport,” he said.
During the discussion, Alejandre said that the airline operators also laid out their upcoming programs including the fleet expansion and modernization routes network expansion.
Last 2013, Alejandre said that the DOT already created a “route development team” by virtue on the department order which provide with according function.”
He said that the “route development team” aims to promote the Philippines as a multi-gateway destination in Asia and improve air connectivity from nature tour resource market in the Philippines.
“As a strategy, DOT will focus on the development and improvement of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and the following airport Mactan, Cebu, Kalibo, Aklan, Iloilo, Davao and Puerto Princessa,” he said.(davaotoday.com)
