Province of Aklan Strongly Opposed The Opening Of The Godofredo P. Ramos Airport To International Flights

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Aklan, during its 5th Special Session on December 13, 2022 which was presided by Provincial Vice Governor and Regular Presiding Officer Atty. Reynaldo M. Quimpo, expressed its opposition/objection in the strongest possible terms of the proposed accommodation of international flights at the Godofredo P. Ramos Airport.

The Province of Aklan has two (2) airports, the Kalibo International Airport (KIA) in Kalibo, the capital town of the Province of Aklan, and the Godofredo P. Ramos Airport (GPRA) in Caticlan, Malay, Aklan.

The KIA has been, and still is, the main gateway for tourists into the Province of Aklan catering to both domestic and international flights, whilst the GPRA services domestic flights.

As of November 30, 2022, the GPRA has already recorded an annual total of 925,741 passenger arrivals through its thirty-six (36) daily domestic flights while the much bigger KIA has only recorded a total of 239,824 domestic passenger arrivals and 40,862 international passenger arrivals, out of its eight ( domestic and two (2) international flights daily.

The Philippine National Government, through the Department of Transportation (DOTr), in coordination with the Provincial Government of Aklan, has spent, and continues to spend, billions of pesos expanding and upgrading the facilities and safety features of KIA to international standards. KIA is a night rated airport and capable of 24 hours operation.

The Aklan SP thru its Resolution No. 2022-289 stated that the opening of international flights at the GPRA will not only exacerbate the already congested condition of the smaller airport and deprive the national government of much needed revenues to recoup what it has already spent for KIA, but more importantly, it will have serious adverse repercussions to Aklan’s economy by depriving businesses, including hotels, transport services, restaurants, and other tourists oriented and dependent establishments and workers, relying on both domestic and international passengers at KIA of their source of income.

“The opening of international flights at the GPRA will likewise derail the attainment of the Provincial Government of Aklan’s long-term plan for the wholistic, balanced and inclusive growth of its local economy by strengthening the economic activities and the development of tourism within mainland Aklan”, Aklan SP stressed.