Cheers, hopes, and heartfelt gratitude filled the air in Caticlan, Aklan, on Monday as President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. personally led the groundbreaking ceremony for the PhP2.5-billion Passenger Terminal Building (PTB) at the Godofredo P. Ramos Airport. This pivotal moment marks a significant milestone, bringing immense pride and renewed optimism to the local community and the nation’s tourism sector.
The long-awaited project, poised to transform the gateway to the world-renowned Boracay Island, was met with enthusiastic support from local officials. Aklan Governor Jose Enrique M. Miraflores expressed profound excitement, stating in an interview with the Presidential News Desk, “We’re very excited that finally this is happening for our province—the construction of a new terminal building at Godofredo P. Ramos Airport.”
Governor Miraflores underscored the deeply personal and long-overdue nature of the occasion, extending his sincere gratitude to President Marcos for prioritizing a project that will undoubtedly ease travel to and from the region. This enhancement is expected to significantly benefit the community through improved economic activities.
“For the past few years, the situation traveling across the runway has been difficult. So, at least with this new terminal building, we expect that more and more tourists will come to Boracay because our airport here will also become world-class,” Governor Miraflores added, highlighting the anticipated surge in visitors drawn by the promise of a seamless travel experience.
The new PTB is a crucial component of local leaders’ ongoing efforts to boost Boracay’s vibrant tourism economy and enhance the travel experience for millions of visitors eager to explore the island’s powdery white sands and sensational sunsets. The governor emphasized the terminal’s role not merely as an infrastructure development but as a cornerstone for accelerated economic progress.
“This is the project we have been waiting for our province, for our tourism industry. Especially for our tourism industry, this is always the improvement we look for in how we can grow our economy faster here,” the governor stated. “With this new terminal building, we’re expecting that more tourists will be coming, more will visit here because they will see that there is a new airport compared to other tourist destinations in the Philippines.”
The groundbreaking ceremony signifies a bold step towards solidifying Boracay’s status as a premier global tourist destination, ensuring that its infrastructure matches the beauty and appeal of its natural wonders.
