Tourism, PCOO officials vow support for Southern Leyte airport completion

 MAASIN CITY, July 4 (PIA) — A top official from the Department of Tourism (DOT) will get in touch with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to relay the long felt need of having a functional airport in Southern Leyte.

Another top official, from the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), also signified his intention to help the province finish the airport.

DOT Usec Benito “Bong” Bengzon, spoke about his move in an interview at the Laging Handa Network Briefing program on Friday, July 3, hosted by PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar.

It was Bengzon’s response to a request by Gov. Damian Mercado, one of the guests, when he was given opportunity by Andanar to say something for the tourism official.

“I-request lang namin sana Usec Bengzon, if possible sir matapos na ang airport namin dito sa Southern Leyte, para magamit sa mga magpunta dito na local and foreign tourists, yan ang problema natin.  Konti na lang ang kulang sa runaway, 500 meters na lang,” the governor said.

The province was the birthplace of President Duterte and was declared by the PNP as the most peaceful in the country, he added.

Mercado said the need for direct flights will help tourists to visit the many destinations in the province like dive sites, and also those who intend to come for the 500th First Mass anniversary in Limasawa next year, March 31, 2021.

“Imbitahin kita sir next year, for the 500 years celebration sa First Mass,” Mercado said, extending the invitation to Usec Bengzon.

Bengzon acknowledged the tourist attractions in the province, saying he had been in the province many times already.

“Siyempre ‘pag nag-expand pa itong airport natin, dadami pa ang mga tourista.  Kakausapin ho namin ang CAAP at saka DOTr para malaman kung paano natin mapapabilis ang development ng airport po dyan ninyo,” Bengzon declared.

Andanar himself, obviously touched by Mercado’s statement that the airport offers a sure advantage for the progress of the province, asked for documents so he could personally hand it over to DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade.

“Governor, I heard your plea na kailangan ay mapaspasan ang trabaho sa airport dyan sa Southern Leyte.  If you can send me governor sa inyong resolution iparating sa aking tanggapan para ma bring up ko ito kay Sec. Art tugade,” Andanar said.

He added,  “The same way na natulungan po natin ang airport nang Surigao City na mabuksan o matapos ang kanilang 1,400-meter runway para makapag-landing po ang ating mga eroplano mula Maynila hanggang Surigao City.”

“Tutulong po ako sa inyo governor, huwag po kayong mag-alala,” the PCOO chief vowed to a grateful Gov. Mercado, who likewise invited Andanar to come as guest for the 500th First Mass rites next year.

During the interview, Gov. Mercado shared that with the global COVID pandemic, the airport served as the holding area for returning Overseas Filipino Workers who were subjected to the health protocols before being dispatched to the quarantine facilities of concerned local government units. 

In recent calamities that befell the region, the province’s airport located in Brgy. Panan-awan, this city, played a crucial role in delivering relief goods as it became the landing site of C-130 planes due to its closeness with the neighboring province of Leyte, Mercado also reported.  (ldl/mmp/PIA8-Southern Leyte)