CEBU, Philippines — Tourists and visitors alike can now avail of a 30-minute flight from the Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA) to Bantayan Island.
This, after the inaugural commercial flight yesterday of King Aces Travel and Tours Services Inc.'s (KATTSI) 72-seater ATR twin-engine turboprop aircraft from the MCIA in Lapu-Lapu City to the Bantayan Airport in Santa Fe town.
More 50 guests joined the inaugural flight to Bantayan and back to Lapu-Lapu City.
MCIA Authority (MCIAA) General Manager Julius Neri, Jr. said the flight was a “game-changer,” as the six-hour land trip from Cebu City to Bantayan Island has now been reduced to a 30-minute flight.
“It will change the landscape of Bantayan; it will drive the economy; it will boost tourism; and it will uplift the livelihood of the Bantayanons,” he said, in a speech.
Neri also said MCIAA needs the help of the local government units of the island to sustain this direct flight.
The regular commercial flights to Bantayan are every Friday and Sunday, that for now are just for P888 per way.
Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia said that she had to negotiate for the operator to keep the airfare at P888.
“We must support this, even us, I continue to ask King Aces and the generals here, please maintain the P888,” said during her speech during the inaugural flight ceremony.
“Give a chance for those that are just trying to eke out a living every day; give them a chance to also be able to enjoy this service. I promise you, with the continuing commercial flights here in Bantayan this is certainly going to improve the economy as well,” she added.
The governor said the original airfare was P2,995 per way, but with the Cebu provincial government lowering the price of the jet fuel that it supplies to the operator to P62 from P74, the operators agreed to the P888 airfare.
“You want this to be sustained, keep it at P888. And in fact, it has become such a good marketing tool,” Garcia said.
The governor also assured the operators, that the Capitol would continue to give its full support for these flights from Mactan island to Bantayan island and vice versa.
“Accessibility is always key in improving and hoping to soar as a prime tourist destination. The less time it takes for domestic and international tourists (to travel), the better,” she said.
Garcia likewise called the mayors in the island to give back the help to the operator especially in giving their “bet” to the Bantayan residents through this flight.
The governor also told the mayors of the three towns in Bantayan Island to “give back” and help the operators in taking this gamble for the Bantayan people.
Bantayan Island is composed of municipalities of Bantayan, Madridejos, and Santa Fe.
On the other hand, Retired Major General Gilbert Llanto, of Prime Aces Holdings Corp. chairman, said they see Bantayan Island as a prospect for development, which is one of the reasons why they chose to operate the flight.
"Kay sentro man ta, kinahanglan gyud naa tay connectivity, naa tay platform. So, kini amo ning gidala ang ATR-72 para mapalambo nato ang negosyo diri—tourism, passenger, traffic, at tsaka cargo. Dako kaayo na’g tabang diri sa atong ekonomiya," he said.
Llanto urged stakeholders, including the mayors, tourism officers, and business sectors, to work together in order for the flight to continue and eventually make more flights.
Prime Aces Holdings Corporation, is a subsidiary of KATTSI, an agency for travel and touring established by ACDI Multipurpose Cooperative and serves members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), including retirees, regular civilian employees, reservists, and active members of the military.
For his part, Santa Fe Mayor Ithamar Espinosa said that the commercial flight is a “dream come true”, not just for him but especially for those who wish to visit the island.
“Most of the concerns nga atong madunggan is the struggle in going here to the island, kay ig-abot nila diri matulog nalang dili na sila maka-enjoy kay because of the long travel,” he said.
Espinosa said they will prepare for the expected influx of tourists and visitors in the island because of this “convenient flight.”
Aside from the governor, Neri, Llanto, and Espinosa, Provincial Board Members Kerrie Keane Shimura and Glenn Anthony Soco, Bantayan Mayor Arthur Despi, Madridejos Mayor Romeo Villaceran, Department of Tourism Assistant Secretary Judilyn Quiachon, among other officials, were also present during the event. — /RHM (FREEMAN)