Robredo calls on airlines to boost Siargao flights for stranded tourists

Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday said she will coordinate with local carriers to boost flights to cater to the stranded tourists in Siargao, and assist in the transport of relief goods.

Robredo, who on Sunday visited the island devastated by Typhoon Odette, said there may be a need to increase flights given the limited number of seats and the number of tourists who were forced to stay on the island.

“Wala pa masyadong dumadating na tulong doon. Maraming mga turista ang stranded kaya magtatawag po kami ngayon sa mga airlines na kung puwede padagdagan ang flights,” she said in a social media post.

“Walang kuryente. Malapit na silang maubusan ng pagkain. Nabasa ‘yung lahat na bigas na prepositioned sana nila,” she elaborated.

[Not much assistance is coming into the island. There are a lot of tourists stranded so we will call on airlines to increase flights. There is no electricity. They are about to run out of food supplies as their prepositioned rice stocks got wet.]

Robredo made the post after a trip to areas hit by Odette including Surigao City, Siargao, Dinagat Islands, and Southern Leyte.

“The trip was a challenge because all communication lines are still down in these places and there are still many places that are hard to reach,” she said.

Robredo said she is already in coordination with local government officials for the release of relief goods, along with possible assistance for several sectors such as business owners and coconut farmers.

In another post, Robredo said she got in touch with Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific as soon as she landed at Siargao Airport, where tourists were stranded and waiting for flights.

"I am grateful to both for having responded quickly. PAL said they are already scheduling more evacuation flights. There was already one when we arrived Siargao," she said.

"Cebu Pacific just confirmed that there will be 1 flight tomorrow Siargao-Manila at 10:35AM. This is the start of their sweeper or special cargo in passenger out flights.

"We will continue lobbying for more of such flights."

Odette left the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Saturday afternoon, after causing “total devastation” in areas under its path. — Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/BM, GMA News