ILOILO City – The island of Sicogon in Carles, Iloilo would soon be operating an airport servicing commercial planes flying vacationers to the island resort.
Mayor Siegfredo Betita expressed confidence that the revival of Sicogon as a tourist destination would generate more jobs for the people of Carles, and specifically of the island.
Sicogon is made up of three barangays – Alipata, Buaya and San Fernando.
“Second, ma-increase ang income indi lang sang Carles but mga neighboring towns kay maagi man sa ila ang iban nga mga turista,” said Betita.
The private airport of Ayala Land, Inc., which partnered with Sicogon Development Corp. to redevelop the island resort, may start operating by the last quarter of 2018, said Betita.
On Aug. 20, a 50-seater Turbo Prop plane of airline AirSwift conducted a test flight, he revealed.
The airport in Sicogon is some 1,300 meters long.
Known for its crystal clear waters and long stretch of white sand beach, Sicogon was a popular tourist destination in northern Iloilo during the 1970s.
In 1976 then President Ferdinand Marcos declared Sicogon a tourist destination zone. Years of neglect, however, resulted to its demise.
Betita said the frequency of commercial flights would depend on the volume of Sicogon tourists but the resort developers were tentatively eyeing three fights a week.
The 1,160-hectare Sicogon has a lot more to offer aside from its white sand beach. It has rich aquatic resources, good snorkeling and diving sites, and has a protected forest area that is home to a diverse flora and fauna.
The island’s Mt. Opao – its highest peak – also offers a majestic view of the island’s surroundings.
An added attraction is a neighboring island called Tumaquin which is just a 150-meter walk during low tide.
Sicogon also has a lagoon in the northern part of the island that can be turned into a natural water reservoir.
The operation of the airport would be timed with the opening of a hotel in Sicogon, said Betita.
Environmental problems in Boracay Island would not likely happen to Sicogon, he added.
The Sicogon developers have technical people familiar with the rules and regulations of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and related agencies, said Betita.
“Kami ‘ya in the local government ma-oversee lang sang ila compliance sa gina-require sang DENR kag other agencies,” according to the mayor.
On June 2012, a Carles municipal ordinance that declared Sicogon Island a tourist destination was recognized by the Sanggunian Panlalawigan of Iloilo. The declaration aimed to revive the island as a tourist destination and to open it for commercial use.
A P10-billion development project was launched on May 9, 2013 by Sicogon Development Corp. of the Sarrosa family, with the intent of reviving Sicogon as a world-class tourist destination.
The project included constructing a five-star hotel and resort, seaport and an airport on the existing airstrip.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. is hopeful that the revival of Sicogon Island as a tourism zone will improve the overall tourism industry of Iloilo./PN
