January 15, 2024
On a bright Monday, the urban authorities of Borongan heralded a significant increase in air travel connectivity. Philippine Airlines, the nation’s flagship air carrier, is set to augment its aerial routes with additional flights connecting Manila and Cebu to Borongan starting on the 3rd of July.
This development follows the formal agreement sealed last Friday, marking a cooperative venture between the municipal leadership and the esteemed airline.
In the light of this advancement, Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan Agda remains optimistic about
the prospect of heightened travel activity to and from Eastern Samar. Agda anticipates a surge in travelers opting for direct flights to the Borongan City Airport, thereby enhancing the region’s accessibility.
“With concerted efforts, we must encourage travelers to prefer the Manila-Cebu-Borongan route. It’s crucial to demonstrate our region’s capacity to sustain and benefit from these additional services,” expressed Mayor Agda.
This expanded flight schedule is anticipated to run until October 23, 2024. The interval from July to October traditionally witnesses a spike in regional travel due to the festive season and surfing competitions that draw crowds to Eastern Samar.
According to municipal records, the Manila-Cebu-Borongan route has already seen a passenger volume of 11,399 since its inception on December 19, 2022. Notably, 7,439 of these passengers secured their tickets through the city’s official booking center.
Currently, Philippine Airlines stands as the sole operator at Borongan City Airport, providing biweekly flights every Monday and Friday. These flights originate from Ninoy Aquino International Airport and make their way to Borongan via Mactan-Cebu International Airport.
Mayor Agda is also reaching out to the business community, especially those in the seafood sector, to utilize these flights for cargo transit to Cebu and the national capital.
The push for better air service is backed by recent disclosures from 4Ps Partylist Representative and House Minority Floor Leader Marcelino Libanan, who revealed a PHP200 million allocation from the national treasury for upgrades to Borongan Airport. These
enhancements are aimed not only at upgrading the existing facilities but also at enticing additional commercial airlines to introduce services to this burgeoning province.
Previously, before Philippine Airlines began operations in Borongan, residents of the province relied on Tacloban Airport, necessitating a tedious land journey of four to six hours. The increase in flights directly to Borongan City Airport represents a significant leap forward in connecting Eastern Samar to wider commercial networks and tourism opportunities.
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