MANILA -- The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) will inaugurate San Vicente Airport (SVA) in Palawan on May 10, and will open this for commercial flights, spokesperson Eric Apolonio told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Monday.
CAAP said the PHP62.7 SVA development project's construction began in 2009, with a goal of providing more flights and routes for passengers traveling to and from Palawan.
SVA was officially opened to light aircraft on June 22, 2017, and to Air Juan's chartered flights in August 2017.
"Last year, SVA was opened to general aviation and charter flights from Air Juan, connecting Puerto Princesa City, San Vicente, Coron–Busuanga, and Caticlan," Apolonio said.
As of Monday, May 7, commercial airlines were still applying to have flights to SVA, Apolonio said.
He noted that one of the edges of SVA is its strategic location.
"San Vicente, Palawan has been named as the country’s Flagship Tourism Enterprise Zone (TEZ). As a Flagship TEZ, San Vicente is envisioned to be one of the centers of tourism development in the Philippines, which will provide varied and integrated tourism and economic facilities and activities that will attract both domestic and foreign investments, therefore generating employment and other socio-economic developments," he explained.
He added that since San Vicente is in Palawan, "it is also blessed with pristine beaches and is home to the longest white sand beach in the Philippines, comparable to the country’s premier white sand beach destination, Boracay".
Apolonio said that with Boracay’s temporary closure, San Vicente can be an alternative destination to Boracay.
"SVA will serve as this new destination’s main gateway while also catering to the air transport needs of our country’s first TEZ," he said.
CAAP Director General Capt. Jim Sydiongco is said to attend the inauguration. (PNA)
