Clark-Dumaguete flights to start in June

DUMAGUETE CITY — Talks are underway for direct flights covering the Dumaguete-Clark Freeport Zone route to start by June as a surge in tourist arrivals to this city is expected due to the six-month closure of Boracay island, Mayor Felipe Remollo said on Thursday.

Remollo, who previously headed the Clark Development Corporation (CDC), met with incumbent CDC president Noel F. Manankil early this week to discuss the new route.

They are now coordinating with Philippine Airlines (PAL) and Cebu Pacific to make the route possible, the mayor told reporters at a press conference here on Thursday.

PAL will launch more daily flights from Manila to Dumaguete starting May 1, Remollo said, noting that he hopes Cebu Pacific will do the same.

“Very soon na [ang Dumaguete-Clark-Dumaguete] flights. Inuna lang [ng PAL] ang Manila-Dumaguete flights. Dati, kapag sumasakay ako ng eroplano, kahit last minute nakaka-book pa rin ako. Ngayon hindi na kasi fully booked na ang flights, one to two weeks before your desired flight date,” the mayor said.

As early as 2012, when Remollo was still president of CDC, he saw the potential of flights to Clark from cities in the Visayas.

The Clark-Dumaguete-Clark route can be sustainable because the city is constantly hosting local, national, and international activities.

In February, Dumaguete hosted the National Schools Press Conference during which over 5,000 campus journalists competed.

This April, the city is hosting an international dance festival, the “2018 Dance Xchange,” with more than 400 participants from 15 countries.

Remollo noted the sustainability of the new route rests on the fact that the city is a gateway to many tourist spots in the Visayas, such as Apo Island, Siquijor, and even Oslob in Cebu.

“It’s a very viable route for any airline,” he said.

Tourist arrivals to this city have increased by 27 percent in 2017, and Remollo expects increase to double once Boracay closes on April 26.

Discussions over the new route opened talks on whether or not the Dumaguete Airport should be converted into an international airport.

“It’s a big challenge for decision makers. Sa June bubuksan na sa Cebu ‘yung extension sa Mactan [Airport]. Ang Bohol bubuksan na ang ‘yung international airport nila by year-end. Tayo, nasaan na ang international airport natin?” Remollo said. —VDS, GMA News