Eastern Visayas residents asked to block flight rerouting plan

TACLOBAN CITY, Aug. 16 (PNA) – Residents in Eastern Visayas were asked to rally behind government’s plan to divert Tacloban flights to Clark International Airport through social media.

The hashtag, #NoToClarkForTaclobanFlights began circulating social media after Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade mentioned in a Senate hearing last week that the three airline companies servicing Tacloban-Manila route agreed to transfer their flights to Clark.

Anna Margarita Hontiveros, mission director of Remedios Trinidad Romualdez Foundation and president of Best Practices Global Response Solutions Inc. has called on all concerned stakeholders in the region to start showing their opposition to this plan.

“The plan to divert Tacloban flights to Clark International Airport will kill all endeavors made after super typhoon Yolanda, therefore, a unified action and response is needed to have strength in action,” 

said Hontiveros in her speech during the induction of Eastern Visayas Association of Tour Operators.

Opposition should not only come from the business sector, but also from the commuting public, who 

are part of the 70 percent local airline passengers in the region, according to Hontiveros.

“If we could just share with friends, talk about it, tweet about it, put it on social media #NoToClarkForTaclobanFlights, your voices need to be heard and remember this is your future that we are talking about,” Hontiveros said.

“You need to protect it because nobody is going to lobby in Congress for policy and laws that are supposed to protect your interest but you. You need to have your voice heard,” she added.

Hontiveros added that the plan to decongest the Manila Airport from air traffic is a good move, but this should be done with proper study. Diversion of flights from certain airports should also come with consultation with affected stakeholders.

“This is a good move for as long as they made proper preparation. The thing is we all got flat footed when we hear the news because that initiated endeavor was done without proper consultation to local stakeholders.”

Department of Tourism Regional Director Karina Rosa Tiopes said that flight rerouting will hurt the Eastern Visayas economy especially that tourism was the first sector to recover after the monster typhoon.

“Tourists who are planning to visit the region may divert their plan to other places due to inconvenience,” Tiopes said.

“We acknowledge the fact that Ninoy Aquino International Airport is decongested and we also acknowledge the fact that this can be done by re-routing, but why Tacloban when our economy is just starting to get better? If this will be pushed through, this is like killing tourism industry in Eastern Visayas,” Tiopes added. (PNA)

FPV/SQM/ROEL T. AMAZONA/EGR