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Monday, December 13, 2004
RP, Singapore to consider more commercial flights
MANILA - The Philippine and Singaporean Governments Friday agreed to amend their air agreement in order to raise the frequency of flights and the exchange of tourists between the two countries.
The agreement was reached during the one-hour bilateral meeting between President Arroyo and Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at Malacañang’s Music Conference Room that highlighted Lee’s state visit to the country.
Lee, in the joint press conference with Arroyo that followed the bilateral meeting, said facilitating air linkages is the only way to raise the number of tourists and businessmen coming to the Philippines from Singapore.
Too few
He said there are only 70 flights a week between Singapore and the Philippines, compared to 200 flights between Singapore and Hong Kong and 400 flights between Singapore and Indonesia.
Arroyo said what was initially in the works, and which has been approved by the Civil Aeronautics Board, was the opening up of Clark International Airport to budget airlines from Singapore.
”Today, the Prime Minister said let’s go beyond that, let’s redo our air agreement so that there can be more travel between our two countries. It’s a new proposition but I welcome it,” she said.
Liberalize
She added that part of the policy framework of raising the Philippines’ competitive advantage in information technology and tourism is a liberalized air policy.
“As for the timetable, since we will just be beginning the talks now, I can’t predict the timetable, but I can say that the direction will certainly be toward liberalization,” she added. (Sunnex)
(December 13, 2004 issue)
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