TACLOBAN CITY – The city of Borongan and Philippine Airlines (PAL) reaffirmed their collaboration with the renewal of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the continued operation of the country’s flag carrier, servicing the Borongan-Cebu-Manila route.
The MOA signing was held at the Borongan City Mayor’s Office last Dec.19 with Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan Agda representing the city government and PAL executives Matthew Llamas, senior specialist for development and sales; Joery Falloria, PAL Tacloban branch manager; and Mary Jane Ocop, PAL Tacloban senior account executive, representing the airline.
Joining the ceremony were Vice Mayor Emman Tiu Sonco, City Councilors Victor Ohoy Franco, Kathlyn Cainday, Glaiza G. Tiu, Frich Baylon Uy, Board Member and Philippine Councilors’ League Region 8 President Ralph Vincent “RV” Evardone, along with other city officials.
Mayor Agda highlighted the significance of the partnership saying it manifests that Borongan is a growing city.
“We know for a fact that having regular flights in Borongan is a catalyst for economic growth. But more importantly, it’s about hope. Providing hope inspires our people to achieve more. It’s about showing that reaching these milestones is possible—and that, for me, is tangible progress,” he said.
Agda also recognized the city’s top 20 frequent fliers for 2024, based on data provided by the local ticketing office, acknowledging their role in supporting the sustainability of local flights.
Tourism Officer-in-Charge and Flight Operations Chair Rupert Ambil shared updates on Borongan’s growing tourism sector, reporting a record-breaking 85,000 tourist arrivals from January to September 2024.
“We’ve hit the highest mark since 2017. Pre-pandemic, we had 80,000 visitors. Now, we’ve already surpassed that at 85,000, and the year isn’t over yet,” Ambil noted.
PAL began its Borongan operations on December 19, 2022, following the initial MOA signing that established twice-weekly flights to cater to the transportation needs of both tourists and Eastern Samar residents.
In September 2024, the airline expanded its service to thrice-weekly flights (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) and started offering cargo shipment services.
To support the operations, the Borongan city government set up a local ticketing office. It also financed and built its departure terminal, completing the planning and construction process within three months.
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) commended Borongan’s modular construction design and has since started replicating the model in other airports nationwide.
The partnership between Borongan City and PAL underscores the city’s commitment to improving connectivity, fostering economic growth, and enhancing opportunities for its residents and visitors, Agda said.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
