Alternate Boracay airport to begin construction in April

BORACAY ISLAND, Philippines - An airport that will serve as an alternate route for Boracay-bound tourists will start construction in April, a local government executive told reporters on Tuesday. Estimated to reach P5 billion, the airport at Carabao Island will not only serve tourists bound for Boracay, it will also attract visitors to the island itself, San Jose Mayor Filipino Tandog said. The airport will be built and managed by the Boracay International Airport and Development Corp., a privately-held company. The company’s incorporation has already been approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Carabao Island, which is under the jurisdiction of San Jose, Romblon also boasts of its white sand. The area expects a spill over of tourists from Boracay, which is only 30 kilometers away. A consortium of Korean and Japanese investors has already expressed interest to finance other components of the project in accordance with the provincial tourism masterplan, Tandog said. “The project has already been endorsed by the Regional Development Council of the MiMAROPA (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan) region," Tandog said. He made this announcement during a meeting he attended with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who held a cabinet meeting at the tourist island this week. - GMANews.TV