RECOVERY FLIGHT. The Department of Tourism flies out on Thursday afternoon at least 56 stranded foreign tourists from the General Santos City International Airport to the Clark International Airport in Pampanga. The special commercial flight of the Cebu Pacific (in photo) was supported by the city government and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines. (Photo grab from the Facebook page of the City Economic Management and Cooperative Development Office)
GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- At least 56 stranded foreign tourists were flown from here to the Clark International Airport on Thursday afternoon through a special flight arranged by the Department of Tourism (DOT).
Edgardo Cueto, manager of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) here, said on Friday the foreigners came from Davao City who were affected by the cancelation of domestic and international flights as a result of the community quarantine due to the 2019 coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
Cueto said the special commercial flight of Cebu Pacific left the city international airport for Clark at 2:15 p.m.
“It was part of the recovery flights arranged by the DOT to allow stranded foreign tourists return home amid the lockdown,” he told reporters.
He said the move was supported by CAAP and the city government, through the City Economic Management and Cooperative Development Office (CEMCDO).
A CEMCDO report said the foreigners were stranded following the cancelation of their return flights.
It said the recovery flight was facilitated by DOT Regions 11 and 12, in coordination with Cebu Pacific.
The stranded tourists were also provided by DOT, city government and CAAP with local transportation, meals, and accommodation.
CEMCDO assured the flight followed the safety protocols for Covid-19 and some of the passengers were eventually shuttled to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport for their international flights.
Cueto said the recovery flight was only for a single outbound travel and the ban on all passenger flights at city airport remains in effect.
He said they have fully implemented the closure of the airport to passenger flights based on Executive Order No. 13 issued by City Mayor Ronnel Rivera that took effect last Tuesday.
The airport closure affected at least 11 outbound passenger flights from the city to Manila, Cebu, Iloilo, and Clark. (PNA)
