More tourists, investors projected to visit N. Samar
CATARMAN, Northern Samar- The newly-rehabilitated passenger terminal building (PTB) of the Catarman Airport in Catarman, this province, could now accommodate more passengers.
Transportations Sec. Arthur Tugade said that with a better and bigger passenger terminal building, the town and the rest of the province could expect better days ahead.
Tugade, who together with Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines Director General Jim Sydiongco leading the event Thursday (Sept.2), said that from the previous 50 passengers, the airport’s PTB could now accommodate 150 passengers and 15,000 passengers every year.
The national government, through the Department of Transportations, allocated more than P114.8 million for the rehabilitation and development of the Catarman Airport which is located in Barangay Dalakit in the said provincial capital.
For the rehabilitation of the PTB, the government allocated P26.13 million and P53 million for asphalt overlay construction, among others.
Sec. Tugade said that now that the Catarman Airport has been developed, influx of tourists and even investors could be expected.
“Catarman and the rest of Northern Samar has a big potential in terms of tourism. And this potential will not be realized if the airport will not be rehabilitated,” he said.
Local officials led by Rep. Paul Daza, Vice Governor Gary Lavin and Catarman Vice Mayor Clarissa Bonsol expressed their gratitude to Sec. Tugade.
“(The) Catarman Airport is critical for the progress and development of the province,” Daza said.
Lavin and Bosol said that an improved Catarman Airport will not only help the locals but also help improve the economy of the province and even during relief operations during a disaster situation.
At present, the Catarman Airport has a once- a -week flight to Manila. (PETER D. PAREDES)
