DOT region sees Iloilo as a bright prospect for international flights

MOVING about the circles of Iloilo City and Bacolod City, you will notice that the speculation on which of the two cities would become a gateway for Asian destinations is now the coffee talk around.

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In Iloilo City, talks are moving about that DOT OIC-Regional Director Atty. Helen Catalbas is too enthusiastic for her region to become one of the hubs for Asian routes. In such manner, Attorney Helen is trying to tell everyone in the region that indeed Western Visayas could be used as a link for connecting destinations to other Asian countries like Malaysia, or Hong Kong or Singapore or even Bangkok.

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Rumors have it that Iloilo City could be the better choice as the gateway for other regional destinations. And by the looks of it all, yes, it is Iloilo that could be the possible jump-off for flights to Singapore or Hong Kong. Iloilo City's advantage over Bacolod is that the present routes of Iloilo-Cagayan-Iloilo and Iloilo-Davao-Iloilo now in Iloilo Airport and will pave the way for travelers' convenience.

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Those from Davao and neighboring provinces including Cagayan de Oro City and nearby, plus General Santos will opt to fly to Iloilo City to connect their travel to Singapore or Hong Kong. This is where the travel opportunities would increase.

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Instead of flying to Manila, this would give the Mindanaoans a fifty-percent travel savings. Similarly, those from Panay and Negros will not any more fly to Manila to connect to Asean nations.

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In my experience, I really hate why the walkalators in the NAIA Terminal 3 do not operate for the arriving passengers. It seems the Philippine government is wise and too frugal in extending the service to travelers.

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In Bacolod-Silay Airport, the toilet paper is insufficient. In the Manila airports, confiscation of prohibited light materials like perfume, umbrella and other items that could not be hand-carried are not being destroyed. Airport Security should destroy these materials or else they will be suspected of taking these items back their homes.

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For the courtesy of it all, airport services should include safekeeping of left-behind items so that the passengers could still reclaim them for a reasonable deposit fee. Why don't the airport police think of creative ways to build up their image in society?