Transportation officials considering increasing cap of inbound travelers to the Philippines

Philippine transportation officials are looking at increasing the capacity of travelers arriving in the country, particularly for returning Filipinos.

According to Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, the additional inbound flight capacity will be presented to the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) on Wednesday.

At present, Tugade said inbound travelers are capped at 2,000 and should this be increased, the plan is to open up more gateways in other regions.

“Alam niyo, ‘yung capacity ngayon mga 2,000 yata ‘yan. Kung lahat ‘yan darating lang sa NAIA at darating lang sa Clark, konti sa Clark tapos konti sa Cebu, mabubulunan po sila,” he said during the virtual Pandesal Forum.

“Kaya nga ba’t sinasabi ko, kung itataas natin ‘yung capacity from 2,000 to say 3,000, kailangan dagdagan din natin ‘yung tinatawag na gateways. ‘Wag mong i-limit lang sa NAIA ‘yan,” he said.

[You know, our current capacity is at 2,000. If all of them arrive in NAIA and some in Clark, they will choke. If we will increase the capacity from 2,000 to say 3,000, we also need to increase the gateways. Do not limit that to just NAIA.]

Tugade said he has also instructed the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) to coordinate with local governments on the possible opening up of regional airports with international flights.

“Habang lumalaki at nagdadagdag ka ng gateways, ‘yung ekonomiya ng local will also be helped kasi nadiyadiyaan ‘yung restaurant, 'yung hotel. Kaya nga ba sinisipat din ‘yan,” he said.

[While we increase gateways, the local economies also benefit as they are home to the restaurants and hotels. That's why we are looking into it.]

For his part, CAAP Chief-of-Staff Atty. Danjun Lucas said the agency has already conducted preliminary talks with local governments, as resolutions are needed for international flights to resume in their respective areas.

Lucas said flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) is looking at mounting international flights from Kuala Lumpur to Panglao on October 6 and 9, 2021.

“Willing po ang Philippine Airlines, makakapagdagdag po ‘yun nga mga facility para makapagdagdag tayo ng capacity ng mga international arrivals,” he said.

“Inuumpisahan natin ‘yan sa GenSan at Panglao. Marami pa po tayong mga iniisip na mga regional international airports na maaring tumanggap,” he added.

[Philippine Airlines is willing. This is will boost our facilities to increase the capacity of international arrivals. We will start with GenSan and Panglao. We are looking at a lot more regional international airports that can accommodate.]

PAL, which recently filed for bankruptcy in the United States, last week called on the government to consider easing travel and quarantine restrictions for fully vaccinated individuals. —KG, GMA News