Philippine President Bongbong Marcos has pledged to develop regional airports in the country to facilitate the arrival of foreign tourists. He made the announcement during the groundbreaking ceremony of the new passenger terminal building at the Caticlan Airport, Aklan, which cost P2.5 billion.
According to Marcos, agreements have already been reached for airports in Bohol and Siargao, while talks are still underway for Iloilo. The project aims to open the Philippines to international flights from Europe and Southeast Asia, not just via Manila but directly to well-known tourist destinations.
The new terminal in Caticlan has two floors, six passenger boarding bridges, and 36 check-in counters. It has an area of 36,470 square meters and can accommodate up to 3,000 passengers. It is targeted to be completed within 24 months or before July 2027.
The Megawide Construction Corp. will build the terminal and Marcos assured that it can be completed on time. The airport is operated by Trans Aire Development Holdings Corp., part of San Miguel Corp. Infrastructure.
In 2024, Caticlan Airport handled over 3 million passengers, making it the fourth busiest in the Philippines. It is also the main route to Boracay. However, the number of tourists to Boracay decreased by 2% due to the lack of a terminal. The government plans to privatize 10 more regional airports before Marcos' term ends.
