Bicol international airport bats for open skies

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines  – It’s open skies at the Southern Luzon International Airport (SLIA) once it becomes operational two years from now.

This is the policy the Albay provincial government will pursue to support a strategy of sustainable growth in the countryside with the completion of the P3.07-billion airport in Daraga town.

Albay Governor Joey Salceda said the provincial government will endorse this proposal during the Regional Development Council (RDC) meeting on Nov. 24.

 “The RDC will endorse the proposal to the National Air Transport Authorities for a selective open skies policy at the SLIA,” said Salceda.

Salceda told The STAR that the move complements province’s goal of attracting more tourists as the international airport draws more foreign airlines.

Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim earlier said foreign visitors can easily fly to their preferred tourists spots because of an aggressive tourist promotion program.

Salceda, who was elected Bicol RDC chair for the second term, said there’s a need to prepare the groundwork for the operationalization of the international airport which is still under construction.

He cited the sudden jump in international air traffic at the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport in Clark from 7,880 to 600,000 after the open skies policy was applied in 2004.

“An open skies policy should equalize the opportunities for regional destinations vis-a-vis the more developed incumbents like Manila, Cebu and Davao,” said Salceda.

 “Open skies at SLIA could further accelerate the tourism growth of Bicol which Secretary Lim acknowledged as one of the fastest-growing destinations for foreign tourists with Legazpi ser-ving as the gateway to a well-diversified portfolio that includes Misibis, Caramoan, Mayon, CWC and Donsol.”

Salceda added that more tourist arrivals in Bicol could also help the Department of Tourism achieve its target to double the number of foreign tourists to the country by 2016. 

 “The synchronized pursuit of regional industrial policy laser-focused on tourism by the provincial governments of Albay, Camarines Sur and Sorsogon utilizing their organic budgets should be complemented by the National Government investment in the SLIA by providing a more conducive policy framework like an open skies.”

Salceda, who is also an international consultant on finance, added that the open skies policy “ should breed the beginnings of sustainable development in the countryside.”