Aquino hails new airport at gateway to Boracay

MALAY, Aklan, Philippines—President Benigno Aquino on Saturday made a quick visit to this municipality to inaugurate a refurbished airport meant to bring in more tourists to the popular white beaches of Boracay Island.

In his  speech, Aquino said the Caticlan airport now being developed by Transaire, a subsidiary of San Miguel Corp., can already accommodate 30 percent more passengers because of the runway lights that would allow night-time travel.

“This is how important this gathering is: this new terminal can be considered as a huge gate that will open up many opportunities—not only for the coming and going of foreign businessmen and tourists—but also for the continued improvement of tourism in the country, long-term progress in the economy and the more jobs that  our countrymen can earn from,” he added.

The airport boasts of a new airconditioned terminal building, with new x-ray scanners, computerized check-in counters and a high-tech baggage carousel.

Aquino said he had to turn down an invitation for him stay for a night in Boracay as he had to oversee government efforts in the flooded areas of Marikina and Malabon in Metro Manila.