MANILA, Philippines — A new airline is set to begin flying across the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) starting April 24.
The official BARMM website announced that Bangsamoro Airways, an airline operated by Federal Airways Inc., “aims to connect mainland BARMM to its island provinces to make the provision of significant services accessible, strengthen bureaucracy and logistics and bolster the region’s economy, tourism and employment...”
Bangsamoro Transportation and Communications Minister Paisalin Pangandaman Tago and chairman of the Bangsamoro Board of Investments Mohammad Omar Pasigan told reporters in Cotabato yesterday that the newly-established airline shall fly through routes connecting the cities of Cotabato, Zamboanga and Sulu province in the far south, with planes that can transport six to 10 passengers, including pilot and airline staff.
Sulu is one of the six provinces in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
The airline is also set to expand its operation to the municipalities of Sibutu and Mapun Tawi-Tawi after three months, and Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia after a year.
Pasigan said opening of flights throughout the region will help bring in more investors.
“This is another breakthrough in the efforts of the Bangsamoro government to show to local and foreign investors that it is safe now to put up capital-intensive businesses in the autonomous region,” he said.
BARMM has recorded a total of P3.7 billion in investments, surpassing its P2.6-billion target this year.
These investments are in Islamic banking, tourism, agriculture, marine and industrial sectors, creating 1,155 job opportunities in the region.
Pasigan emphasized the importance of peace and order in enticing investors to the region.
“Our greatest help as Bangsamoro citizens is to make our region peaceful and safe for our investors,” he said.
Tago said agencies under his office that are overseeing the operations of airports in BARMM are helping to ensure the smooth operation of Bangsamoro Airways throughout the autonomous region.
“We are happy that the business communities in the Bangsamoro region and their contacts in other regions and abroad are glad that a new airline shall operate in BARMM provinces,” he said.
Tago, Pasigan and Bangsamoro Airways representatives shall officiate next week’s launch of the airline at the Cotabato Airport in nearby Datu Odin Sinsuat town. – John Unson