Puerto Princesa City to become major int'l gateway – Sec. Jimenez

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, 01 December (PIA) -- “Puerto Princesa City will become a major international gateway.”

Thus said Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez in this afternoon’s press conference capping the one-day planning conference of the Puerto Princesa Underground River Task Force held at the Asturias Hotel in this city.

Jimenez said Palawan and Puerto Princesa City will have a brand new international airport which is one of the priority projects under the Aquino administration.

He announced that the airport project is being fast-tracked for completion within four years starting 2012 having just secured approval from the National Economic Development Authority Board recently.

The improvement and rehabilitation of the Puerto Princesa Airport is a Ph4.2 billion project and is one of the major projects for rollout this year under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) of the Aquino administration.

He said that being a major international gateway there will be direct flights from other countries that will land in the airport which would bring in tremendous income and opportunities for the city and the province.

“I am here to ring the alarm that the international tourists are sure to come due to the fame of the Underground River in the New 7 Wonders and it is important that we prepare ourselves and to seize the opportunity,” he said.

The key players in the local tourism industry were present in the press conference which was also attended by City Mayor Edward Hagedorn, DOT Assistant Secretary Eugene Kaw, Director Louella Jurilla of DOT Region IV, and City Tourism Officer Becky Labit.

(DOS/VSM/PIA-Palawan)