THE provincial government of Davao Oriental and a local airline are already in initial talks for the possibility of opening commercial flights to and from Mati City.
Mati City Information Officer Ben Tesiorna told SunStar Davao on Friday, November 4 that only initial talks were made regarding the possibility to start processing the requirements needed for the project.
Details of the project were not yet specified, including which cities or airports would Mati City first connect with for this commercial flight with Philippine Airlines (PAL).
During the meeting with PAL executives and Mati City mayor Michelle Rabat, Governor Corazon Malanyaon suggested using a smaller aircraft first since a bigger aircraft would need more requirements and longer processing time.
“The Governor and the City Mayor agreed to fast-track complying with the minimum flight requirements and standards for smaller aircraft to operate,” the provincial government said in a statement.
If plans are finalized and underway, Malanyaon hopes that the maiden flight would be held early next year via the current airport in Mati City. Tesiorna said the airport is currently operating to accommodate light aircrafts.
“Actually, there is a plan to expand the runway to accommodate bigger planes. That is why there was a negotiation with the landowners adjacent to the airport para maka-expand,” he said.
The governor added that the PAL commercial flight to Mati City would be a huge support to the province’s tourism campaign.
A PAL commercial flight to Mati City is timely as the province relaunches its tourism campaign. Once operational, the commercial flight is expected to bring in huge tourism activities for Mati City and the province and in turn, boost the local economy.
Regional director of the Department of Tourism in Davao Tanya Rabat Tan said boosting Davao Oriental’s tourism can help the overall recovery of the tourism sector in the Davao Region.
“Davao Oriental shows a very promising tourist destination. We have many established sites and maganda ang circuit offerings,” Tan said in a press conference earlier this year.
Aside from the world-class beaches in Mati City, particularly in Barangay Dahican, Davao Oriental also has different tourism circuits offering various experiences for tourists. These include the Gulf Town Tourism Circuit and East Coast Tourism Circuit among others. ICM