(Infographics courtesy of MinDA)
DAVAO CITY – Royal Air Philippines announced Tuesday its inaugural flights from Davao to Hong Kong and vice versa on Oct. 8.
Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Secretary Maria Belen Acosta said the addition of Royal Air PH to the airlines operating in the city marks "a significant milestone for both travelers and the airline industry in Mindanao."
In a statement, Acosta said the new route would provide a more convenient travel option for passengers looking to explore Hong Kong and the rest of the world.
She noted that the opening of the new international route from Davao comes at an opportune time with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s issuance of Proclamation 298, lifting the state of national emergency in Mindanao.
On July 25, Marcos issued the proclamation, lifting "effective immediately" former president Rodrigo Duterte's Proclamation 55 declaring a "state of national emergency on account of lawless violence in Mindanao" in Sept. 2016.
"Together, we can now look forward to welcoming more tourists, attracting investments, and creating better economic opportunities for our people, making Mindanao truly a fulfilled promise,” Acosta said.
She said it is time to open Mindanao to the world "as a peaceful, beautiful and bountiful island." (PNA)
