CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, Aug. 15 (PNA) — The city government of Catbalogan is pushing for the rehabilitation of the Catbalogan airport in the city’s Buri Island.
Catbalogan City Mayor Stephanie Uy-Tan said opening the airport to commercial flights will unlock economic and tourism potentials of Samar’s provincial capital.
“The rehabilitation of the airport is a project of the national and provincial government. On our part, we never stopped asking assistance from the people whom I know that can help,” Uy-Tan told reporters.
The mayor said that Department of Transportation and Communication’s planning and project director Deo Leo Manalo will visit the city next week to discuss prospects of facility upgrade with local government officials.
Uy-Tan also added that foreign and Manila-based investors want this project to be fully realized as well.
“Tourism is vitally important for all people in Samar and that is no more than evident right here in Catbalogan. It will make our transportation network stronger and it will help further improve our already strong economy,” Uy-Tan said.
The mayor claimed the city government already got commitments from airline officials to launch the Manila-Catbalogan or Cebu-Catbalogan routes.
Back in 1995 the national government approved PHP57 million for building the Catbalogan airport though it remained incomplete after three years of implementation.
In 2010, the Samar provincial government allocated PHP30 million for the repair of apron and runway extension of the said airport, however, after learning that it is the national government’s responsibility, they stopped putting up new budget for the facility. (PNA)