Opinion: It’s Time for Kalibo to Rise—Together

By: Guillermo Sumbiling

Community Advocate / Tourism Supporter

Kalibo has always been more than just a gateway to Boracay. It is the soul of Aklan, the birthplace of the Ati-Atihan Festival, and a cultural treasure that helped shape the Philippines’ vibrant festival landscape. But today, Kalibo faces a harsh reality—one that demands bold action and genuine collaboration between government and business leaders.

The recent reduction of Philippine Airlines flights from Kalibo International Airport has exposed just how fragile the town’s economic lifeline has become. Once the third busiest airport in the country, Kalibo is now witnessing fewer visitors, empty hotel rooms, closed restaurants, and declining business confidence. For a town so rich in heritage and heart, this should be a wake-up call.

Kalibo deserves more than one festival season of prosperity each year. We need year-round economic activity. We need a strategy. And we need to work together.

One clear opportunity lies in MICE tourism—Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions. Other cities have done it. Iloilo has rallied behind its MICE Alliance, and Boracay has organized its own network of stakeholders to attract event-based travel and business tourism. Kalibo, with its central location, accessibility, and deep cultural roots, has all the potential to do the same—and perhaps, do it even better.

Thankfully, there is already momentum. SB Ronald Marte, Chair of the Municipal Tourism Committee, has voiced strong support for positioning Kalibo as a MICE destination. Mayor Juris Sucro is laying down the groundwork for larger venues to host sports events, conferences, and exhibitions. And Vice Mayor Dr. Cynthia dela Cruz is pushing for the creation of a local MICE Council to align government priorities with tourism and business development goals.

This is not just good governance—it’s smart leadership. And it must be matched with equal energy from the private sector.

Businesses, local entrepreneurs, hotels, restaurants, and investors must step up. We can no longer afford to rely on peak seasons or wait for travelers to pass through. Kalibo must become the destination—not just a side trip, but a reason to visit. The PCCI Aklan, under the leadership of President Lloyd Macahilig, is already supporting this initiative. But wider participation is needed—from small vendors to large enterprises.

This is a call to action. Not just for politicians or executives—but for everyone who calls Kalibo home or cares about its future.

Let’s sit at the same table. Let’s build something together that brings jobs, opportunity, and pride back to our town. Kalibo has given so much to Philippine culture. It’s time we give something back—by investing in its future.

Because Kalibo isn’t just where the festival began. It’s where recovery can begin, too.