Three airline companies are expected to resume “limited commercial flights” anytime from now at Puerto Princesa International Airport (PPIA) said the City Administrator, Thursday.
City Administrator and Legal Counsel Atty. Arnel Pedrosa told Palawan Daily News (PDN) these flights will be “limited only” to ROFs, LSIs, APORs, and those who have invitation from the City Government of Puerto Princesa (CGPP) and Provincial Government of Palawan (PGP).
Pedrosa said this was agreed in a meeting today Thursday of CGPP, PGP with Provincial Governor Jose Alvarez, PPIA, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), and three airline companies.
“Ang napag-usapan namin ay kung kailan mag-schedule itong mga airlines, okay na kami sa ganoon,” said Pedrosa.
“Mag-i-ischedule ‘yong mga airline companies. Mga once a week; isang flight or dalawang flights once a week [per airline],” he also said.
Pedrosa stated the three airline companies to resume limited commercial flights at PPIA are Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, and Air Asia.
However, Atty. Pedrosa stated these commercial flights are not yet for tourism and leisure purposes.
In a joint letter of City Mayor Lucilo Bayron and Provincial Governor Jose Alvarez dated June 10 addressed to CAAP Director General Capt. Jim Sydiongco, the two government officials manifested that health safety protocols are to be strictly observed in this resumption of flights.
Pedrosa said these flights will be strictly coordinated with CGPP and PGP, to ensure that every passenger falls under one of the allowed categories namely returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs), locally stranded individuals (LSIs), Authorized Persons Outside Residence (APORs), and those the two local government units (LGUs) are going to invite.
Pedrosa also assured the people that the two LGUs will maintain their public-service accountability even in this prerogative to choose whom to invite to enter the city and province.
Pedrosa affirmed that the LGUs will not go beyond the authority bestowed upon them in this matter.
“May kinalaman pa rin sa medical ‘yan o economic side,” said Pedrosa.