Revival of Davao-Manado flights eyed

Direct flights between Davao in the Philippines and Manado in the North Sulawesi province of Indonesia may soon be revived, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said. The DFA said this developed after talks between Jose Burgos, the new Philippine Consul General in Manado,   and Dr. Sinyo Harry Sarundajang, the governor of North Sulawesi, on January 4. “The two officials discussed the resumption of direct flights betweenManado and Davao. Direct flights to the two cities ceased in 2008 andefforts to revive the direct air links have proven to be fruitless up to this date,” the DFA said in a news release. It said Jakarta-based Lion Air and Manila-based Zest Air have expressed desire to operate the route, but still have to complete their documentation requirements. Flights may resume as early as January 2012, as Sarundajang expressed his desire to visit the Philippines during the inaugural flight, the DFA added. During the meeting, both officials discussed the great tourism potentials of Manado City in Indonesia, and Davao and General Santos Cities in thePhilippines. Manado’s tourism potential will be placed in the spotlight, with the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF 12) scheduled to be held there, the DFA said. PHL tourism chief to meet with Ma governor Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr., who is leading a 45-member Philippine delegation to the forum, will meet with the Governor during his visit to the city from January 9 to 14. Aside from North Sulawesi, the jurisdiction of the Consulate in Manado covers 10 provinces of East Indonesia, including:

• South Sulawesi
• Southeast Sulawesi
• Central Sulawesi
• West Sulawesi
• Gorontalo
• Maluku
• North Maluku
• Papua/Irian Jaya
• West Papua
• East Kalimantan.

Burgos and Sarundajang also discussed political, economic, trade andcultural cooperation between Manado and the cities of Davao, General Santosand other areas in Southern Mindanao. They also discussed trade potentials between the two areas centered on thecoconut, fishing and canning industries, consumer goods and abundant rawmaterials for food processing. Burgos was told that cultural promotion centered on education as many Manadonese students would like to study in universities in Davao, GeneralSantos and Cagayan de Oro. “Medical and nursing courses seem attractive to Manadonese young studentsand they would like to enroll in medical and nursing schools in SouthernMindanao,” the DFA said. Meanwhile, a sports meet is also being pursued, and sister city agreements are being revived between Manado, General Santos and Davao. The Governor recalled the several historical ties between Manadonese and Southern Mindanao peoples. The proximity of the regions facilitated movements of traders such thatcommerce and culture are closely inter-linked among peoples of the two cities. - VVP, GMA News