SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique – The maiden flight of Philippine Airlines (PAL) at the Evelio B. Javier (EBJ) Airport here is set to be officially launched today.
Jose Fajunio, Civil Aviation Authority for the Philippines (CAAP) acting manager of the EBJ, said the historic flight of PAL between Clark and Antique will initially start with two flights a week but will eventually depend on the increase in number of passengers.
“PAL might consider increasing the twice a week flight from Clark to Antique and vice versa if there would be enough passengers,” Fajunio said.
“We will really ensure that by Dec. 16 we are 100 percent ready for the flight,” he had said earlier.
Fajunio added that CAAP air traffic controllers and personnel for the airways navigation service have arrived for the maiden flight.
“There are also nine firefighters with their firetruck at the airport now,” he said.
The Evelio B. Javier Airport stopped commercial operations for several years and was used only by private planes before the government decided to reopen it this year.
Fajunio reveals that the runway at the airport was extended from 1.2 kilometers to 1.3 kilometers.
“With the runway expansion, it now meets the requirement of PAL,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Antique Harvest Fair formally opened Friday at Robinson’s Mall here to showcase the different goods of farmers, indigenous people and other producers in the countryside – coinciding with the maiden flight.
Dubbed as Antique Harvest, it is the first in Western Visayas and aims to promote culinary heritage and tourist destinations in the 18 towns of Antique.
“The DOT’s Philippine Harvest promotes the culinary heritage of different regions in the country. I wanted them to do the same for Antique so we can showcase the local food and tourist destinations of all the municipalities. It is a way to boost the promotion of Antique destinations, cultures, and values through food and other Philippine Tourism products,” said Sen. Loren Legarda.
“I want to boost tourism and trade in Antique through the Antique Harvest, which will coincide with the inaugural flight of Philippine Airlines to San Jose on Dec. 16. These are efforts to promote our local products and tourist sites. Once there is greater demand for these products and sites, there will be more livelihood opportunities for Antiqueños,” said Legarda.
The Antique Harvest boasts twenty-two exhibitors featuring farm tourism sites, destinations, local food and travel agencies that promote sustainable travel.
“This is only the beginning of many more initiatives for our province. We have many other collaborations with national government agencies and even the private sector to bring their programs to Antique,” Legarda concluded./PN
