Dumaguete-Clark flights to be launched

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines — Talks with airport authorities are now underway for direct flights from Dumaguete City to the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga and vice versa, which is expected to open within the next two months, according to Dumaguete Mayor Felipe Remollo last week.

Remollo, who previously headed the Clark Development Corporation (CDC), met with incumbent CDC president Noel Manankil to discuss the possibility of the flight route, as a way of resolving the surge of tourists to Dumaguete as a result of the six-month closure of Boracay Island.

They are now coordinating with Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific Air to make the route possible, the mayor told reporters at a press conference.

Due to the increasing number of passengers coming to this city, PAL will have more daily flights from Manila to Dumaguete and vice versa starting May 1. Remollo said he is hoping Cebu Pacific will do the same.

"Very soon na [ang Dumaguete-Clark-Dumaguete] flights. Giuna lang [sa PAL] ang Manila-Dumaguete flights. Sa una, mosakay ko'g eroplano, bisa'g last minute maka-book lang gihapon ko. Karon di na, fully booked na ang flights, one to two weeks before your desired flight date," the mayor said.

With more direct flights from Manila and Clark to Dumaguete, Remollo said that tourists need not worry about having to drop by other cities, such as Cebu or Bacolod, to get here. "Competitive na pud ang presyo, di na pud mahal ang paglupad diri," he added.

Remollo pointed out that, as early as 2012 when he was CDC president, he saw the potential of flights to Clark from cities in the Visayas, including Dumaguete. The Clark-Dumaguete-Clark flight route will be a sustainable one because Dumaguete is constantly playing host to a string of local, national, and international activities, he said. “It's a viable route for any airline."

At present, Dumaguete has direct flights to Manila, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, and Davao, the two latter destinations of which became available only last year.

The discussion of the new flight route has also opened talks about whether the Dumaguete Airport should be converted into an international airport. (FREEMAN)