Boracay Island Airport ₱300 Billion Modernization Development Ground Breaking

Caticlan – Boracay Airport Modernization have its ground breaking last June 25, 2011 for another ₱ 300 Billion government spending to have a modern airport in the country's capital tourist destination.

The World's famous Boracay of the Philippines as the country's premier tourist destination, Boracay Island, is expected to boost its economy even more – by an estimated P300 billion at least – with the renovation of the new airport in neighboring Caticlan, jump-off point to the world-famous holiday destination.

President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III, who led the ceremonial switch-on activity in Caticlan last Saturday, said tourism receipts to be raised in the popular beach destination once the renovated airport opens, could be as much as ₱322.5 billion with three million tourist arrivals accommodated by the airport which, in its present existing state, serves some 700,000 passengers per year.

"That's about $1,000 per tourist, with a multiplier effect of five," Aquino observed.

The President pointed out the domino effect that the airport's development could bring to Boracay's economy. He said it will give sustainable livelihood to Filipinos working in restaurants, souvenir shops, and hotels on the island.

Aquino further emphasized that upgrades to be installed in the Caticlan airport, including state-of-the art scanners, computerized check-in counters, and spacious waiting areas, should be able to entice more tourists even as their safety and security are ensured.

TransAire Development Holdings Corp., a subsidiary of San Miguel Corp., is undertaking the expansion and upgrading of the facility which will eventually be known as Boracay Airport within 25 years.

A total of ₱2.5 billion has been spent so far by said SMC subsidiary for the project.

The airport terminal will be re-done to make certain the accommodation of three million visitors annually even as the runway will be widened from 950 meters at present to 2,500 meters.

Night flights to Boracay will also soon be available with the installation of runway lighting and modern night-time navigation systems.

 

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The Philippines and Japan want U.S. help in dealing with China's aggression in Spratlys

The Betraying China lost its trust from all surrounding neighbors

While President Obama was telling America that “it is time to focus on nation-building here at home,” visitors from two Asian countries came to town reminding the administration that America is needed more than ever in their region as a counterweight to an increasingly assertive China.

On Thursday, Albert F. del Rosario, secretary of foreign affairs for the Philippines, was due to meet Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for talks that he told me and a couple of Post colleagues would “focus on territorial defense, given the challenges to maritime security.”

That’s code for China’s ambitious claims in the South China Sea, which have alarmed not only the Philippines but also Japan and Vietnam and other Southeast Asian nations.

“The situation is shaky out there,” del Rosario said during a visit to The Post. “The intrusions are getting more aggressive.” China, he said, has escalated its challenges in an area recently found to contain large deposits of natural gas: “From frigates firing on our fishing boats, they’ve gone to harassing our exploration boats to bringing in platforms and posts.”

As a result, del Rosario said he would be asking U.S. officials for “clarification” on whether the U.S.-Filipino mutual defense treaty extends to offshore territory and for help in obtaining new patrol boats.

The foreign secretary said that the United States should be as concerned as Asian nations are with China’s claims, because they could lead to China choking off free navigation. “China says there will be no problem,” he said. “If push comes to shove, will that benevolence continue?”

So how should the United States respond?

“We’re confident that, having neglected that part of the world for quite a long time, [the Americans] would like to reestablish their presence there,” del Rosario said.

Earlier in the week The Post’s Jason Ukman and I spoke with Japanese Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa, who was in town with the country’s foreign minister to meet with Clinton and Defense Secretary Robert Gates. Japan too has had run-ins with China in the South China Sea, and Kitazawa’s prescription was similar to del Rosario’s.

“If the United States strikes a firm position, by stating that the United States is going to maintain a strong position in the region, China will have to show restraint,” Kitazawa said.

In an unstable political situation in Tokyo, Kitazawa represents what passes for stability: He’s the only cabinet member to be holding the same position since what had been the longtime opposition party came to power in 2009. And he pointed out the significance of the government’s evolution over these two years, from questioning the U.S.-Japan alliance — as the opposition had done for half a century when it was out of power — to fully embracing it.

“That means essentially that political forces representing 80 percent of the Japanese people are now committed to this alliance,” Kitazawa said. “So the U.S.-Japan alliance is deepened further.”

There are a number of reasons Japan has come around to this view, including generous and quick U.S. assistance after the great earthquake in March and the continuing belligerence of North Korea. But the chief reason is China’s assertiveness, and the desire, shared throughout Asia, for the United States to play a balancing role.

Such a U.S. presence will be essential to the maintenance of peace, continued growth of trade and prosperity, and promotion of values important to America — such as freedom — and less cherished by China’s Communists. Presumably our Asian allies will be watching to see whether such a presence will also be compatible with Obama’s call to turn inward.

 

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