By: Elmer Recuerdo
TACLOBAN CITY – The national flag carrier Philippine Airlines will add another flight to Borongan City due to an increasing demand both from the riding public and traders who bring their products to Cebu.
Borongan City Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan Agda said PAL officials, during a meeting this week, informed him of their plans to introduce an extra flight every Wednesday from July to October on top of the present two flights a week, which is every Monday and Friday.
He said there is a big market for marine products of Eastern Samar, especially crustaceans, in Cebu and Manila which are carried by PAL on a regular basis.
Agda said PAL's presence in the city gave hope to its citizens and boosted their pride and morale. He also said that the existence and eventual increase in the number of flights bodes well for the city's food exportation potential and its projected impact on the city's economic landscape.
"Philippine Airlines gave hope to our people in Eastern Samar. We were able to put our city on the map for the world to see, and of course, it has boosted our pride and morale," Agda said.
PAL's operation in Borongan City started in December 2022 after years of negotiations and lobbying to open a commercial flight in the city.
Borongan City Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan Agda said PAL officials, during a meeting this week, informed him of their plans to introduce an extra flight every Wednesday from July to October on top of the present two flights a week, which is every Monday and Friday.
He said there is a big market for marine products of Eastern Samar, especially crustaceans, in Cebu and Manila which are carried by PAL on a regular basis.
Agda said PAL's presence in the city gave hope to its citizens and boosted their pride and morale. He also said that the existence and eventual increase in the number of flights bodes well for the city's food exportation potential and its projected impact on the city's economic landscape.
"Philippine Airlines gave hope to our people in Eastern Samar. We were able to put our city on the map for the world to see, and of course, it has boosted our pride and morale," Agda said.
PAL's operation in Borongan City started in December 2022 after years of negotiations and lobbying to open a commercial flight in the city.
Borongan City Information Officer and Flight Operations Chair Rupert Ambil said a total of 11,399 seats were sold in its first year of operation, 7,439 of them were sold by the city government. He said this passenger volume was significantly higher than other domestic airports in the country during the first few years of their flight operations.
Borongan City Vice Mayor Emman Tiu Sonco said that the flights not only bring convenience to local travelers, but also contributed to boosting the city's tourism industry and local economy.
Tiu Sonco said visitors' logs in the province showed a significant rise in the number of tourist arrivals since PAL flights started. He also noted an increase in the number of balikbayan and weekenders or tourists who come on Fridays and return to their homes on Mondays.
PAL's unique operation in the city has received commendations from the airline's management. Borongan is the only LGU in the country to mount its departure terminal out of its own funds. The city set up its terminal building using modular construction design. (CJ/jmm/ER)
Borongan City Vice Mayor Emman Tiu Sonco said that the flights not only bring convenience to local travelers, but also contributed to boosting the city's tourism industry and local economy.
Tiu Sonco said visitors' logs in the province showed a significant rise in the number of tourist arrivals since PAL flights started. He also noted an increase in the number of balikbayan and weekenders or tourists who come on Fridays and return to their homes on Mondays.
PAL's unique operation in the city has received commendations from the airline's management. Borongan is the only LGU in the country to mount its departure terminal out of its own funds. The city set up its terminal building using modular construction design. (CJ/jmm/ER)
