Wednesday, July 02, 2008 Nalzaro: PAL back in Dipolog By Bobby Nalzaro Saksi
DIPOLOG CITY - It has been one week since I arrived here to attend to my sickly mother.
The weeklong celebration of “Araw ng Dipolog” kicked off yesterday morning with a grand parade. This is the third major festivity held in the city in the past two months. Pagsalabok festival, a city-initiated activity, was held simultaneously with the city fiesta on the third Sunday of May.
“Hudyaka Zanorte,” a provincial government-initiated festival, was held on the last week of May and the first week of June. It was highlighted by street dancing participated in by the different municipalities in the province and showcased local products and delicacies. It aims to promote tourism and the province as potential investment site.
Tourism and investment are the priorities of the administration of Gov. Rolando Yebes, who is still in his second term. Like in other progressive provinces in the country, basic infrastructure like roads, ports, electricity, water and communication are in place here.
With hydro power sourced from the Maria Cristina falls in Iligan, the province has long been energized and electricity is cheap. Gone are the days when people dig backyard wells to get water, as the city's water district has expanded its operation even to remote barangays.
Cruztelco, the local telephone firm and cellular provider, has a big market share in the city and in the province. Now, even farmers and tuba gatherers own a cell phone. Port operations will be transferred to Barangay Galas, just a few kilometers away from the city proper, from Pulawan, a barangay in Dapitan City.
But the big news for Dipolognons and Zamboanga del Nortehanons is the resumption of the operation of the Philippines Airlines (PAL). PAL Express will soon have its inaugural flight for the Cebu-Dipolog route. PAL and Asian Spirit used to serve this route but ceased operations a couple of years ago for business reason.
The national government is planning to upgrade the Dipolog airport to accommodate bigger planes. This was one of the programs outlined by President Arroyo in her State of the Nation Address last year.
PAL Express leaves Cebu for Dipolog every Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 5:50 a.m. and leaves Dipolog for Cebu every 7:10 on the same days. The fare is P2,277 round trip. PAL Express is now serving Cebu-Bacolod, Boracay, Butuan, General Santos, Puerto Princesa, Tacloban, Cagayan de Oro, Ozamis and Zamboanga City.
