Tuesday, April 17, 2007 Passenger arrivals show confidence in Cebu: guv
CEBU posted an increase in the number of international passenger arrivals for the first quarter of this year, a record that Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia said only shows “confidence” in Cebu despite the continued issuance of travel advisories against the island by other governments.
After a meeting with the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) board yesterday morning, Garcia told reporters that the total international passenger arrivals from January to March this year reached 112,772.
The number is 22 percent higher than the same period last year, which was 92,226.
The airport authorities surpassed its target of 97,760 passengers, recording a 15-percent increase.
Just a few days ago, the Australian Government issued an advisory for its citizens not to travel to Cebu, citing security threats.
Growing interest
“But if we read the data, we see a growing interest by international passengers who come to Cebu. There is much confidence in our peace and order or else, they would not be coming in droves in spite of the travel advisories,” said Garcia, a member of the MCIAA board.
The governor, who also heads the Regional Peace and Order Council for Central Visayas, added that this poses a challenge for local authorities to fully secure the airport.
“This is already being taken care of with the equipment we put up. We are contemplating acquiring an x-ray for all cargoes and baggage. The challenge is there, and we’re up to the challenge. The influx of tourists indicates confidence in us,” she said.
Moreover, she said the MCIAA also recorded a revenue higher than that of last year.
In January to March 2006, the MCIAA earned a total of P217,164,495 from aeronautical and non-aeronautical fees as well as “bank and cash management revenues.”
In the same period this year, the amount is 13 percent higher, at P244,850,193.
Cebu has also increased its number of international flights, from 658 to 847 this year. Their target for this year was only 691.
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) 7 also reported increased arrivals and departures by Australian tourists and businessmen.
Coming back
BI 7 Director Geronimo Rosas said Australians who know that Cebu is peaceful and tourist-friendly keep on coming back. This, he said, is the reason behind their increased revenue collections.
Records show BI 7 collected P65.4 million for the first quarter this year, which is P11.7 million higher than the same period last year.
Rosas also said arrivals by Germans also increased despite the report that a German national and his wife were killed by robbers who broke into their house in Baclayon, Bohol.
Rosas said that he has already instructed Timoclites Inting, an immigration officer assigned in Tagbilaran City, to conduct an inquiry on the killing of Helmut Malinka, 65, of Hamburg, Germany and his wife, Eutiquia, 59, inside their residence in Barangay Laya, Baclayon, Bohol.
Rosas, however, clarified that the task of his office is processing travel documents and monitoring foreigners in the country to see to it that they follow the Philippine Immigration Act of 1940 and pay the correct fees. The inquiry to be conducted by Inting is for record purposes only, he said.
Earlier, Department of Tourism (DOT) Director Patria Aurora Roa said that the in the past years, tourists in Bohol are “spill over” from Cebu. At present, Bohol is now a tourist destination but foreigners have no choice but to pass Cebu where, Mactan Cebu International Airport is located.
Rosas said direct flights between Mactan and the different countries in the Asia Pacific, including Australia, are reasons why arrivals and departures of international passengers increased.
Rosas said Kalibo in Aklan will open its international airport to direct flights with Australia and Hongkong. The problem, Rosas said, is that the BI in Manila wants to get personnel from Cebu to staff the new international airport.
Undermanned
“The arrivals and departures of international passengers are increasing in Cebu and we are already undermanned. I will request my superiors to get personnel from other areas”, Rosas said.
Rosas is scheduled to meet Associate Commissioner Roy Almoro in Manila today to discuss the matter.
Almoro was named by Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales as BI officer-in-charge in the meantime that Samar Rep. Marcelino Libanan has not reported to his new job yet. Libanan replaced Alipio Fernandez, who resigned as BI commissioner last month and is running for mayor in Dagupan City, Pangasinan. (JPM/EOB)
