A Bridge from Mindanao to Boracay – It’s Time to Fly

By: Guillermo Sumbiling

In the heart of the Visayas, Boracay continues to shine—not just as a paradise island, but as a symbol of what Philippine tourism can achieve when nature, community, and vision work together. But even as millions have walked its powdery white sands and watched its fiery sunsets, there are still regions in the country where Boracay feels like a faraway dream.

Take Northern Mindanao, for example. Cagayan de Oro, the region’s bustling gateway, is home to more than 730,000 people and sits at the center of a region of over 5 million. It’s one of the fastest-growing urban hubs in the Philippines—modern, connected, and thriving with a youthful population eager to travel.

And yet, there’s no direct flight from Cagayan de Oro to Caticlan.

For a Mindanaoan family who wants to experience Boracay, it takes multiple flights, long layovers, and high costs to reach the island. It’s easier—sometimes cheaper—to fly to international destinations than to cross islands within the same country. This is the gap we must bridge.

As the Department of Tourism, Provincial Government of Aklan, and Boracay stakeholders roll out the “Marhaba Boracay” initiative—a campaign aimed at welcoming Middle Eastern guests and showcasing Boracay to new international markets—it is also a perfect moment to look inward and ask: What about the rest of the Philippines?

Just as we prepare to welcome the world, shouldn’t we also make it easier for our fellow Filipinos to experience our country’s best?

Boracay’s business owners, resort managers, transport groups, and community leaders have always been proactive in shaping the island’s future. Today, a new opportunity lies before us—to open a direct air link from Cagayan de Oro to Caticlan, creating a long-overdue connection between the Visayas and Northern Mindanao.

This isn’t just about flights. It’s about:
• Tapping a thriving domestic market that already travels frequently, but lacks access.
• Completing the tourism circuit that links Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao with ease.
• Boosting trade, logistics, and partnerships between two growing economic centers.
• Creating a more inclusive tourism economy that reflects the archipelagic spirit of our country.

Airlines like Cebu Pacific are expanding their turboprop fleets, ideal for short-haul, point-to-point routes like CDO–Caticlan. With local support and a clear demand signal, this route is viable.

So let this be the start of a local movement.

Let Boracay’s stakeholders raise their voices—not just for Marhaba, but for Mindanao. Let’s reach out to our brothers and sisters in Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, Bukidnon, and beyond. Let’s make it easier for them to experience what we offer with pride.

We’ve built Boracay into a global destination. Now it’s time to connect it more deeply with the rest of the Philippines.

The next chapter of Boracay’s growth is not just international—it’s regional, it’s domestic, it’s Filipino. Let’s make it happen—one new flight at a time.