Gov. Lilia G. Pampanga has another advocacy — way beyond the provincial boundary – to boost “regional productivity to contribute more to national development.”
This came in the wake of Pampanga winning in Davao City last week the bid to host the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP) convention in October next year.
“The showcase of the best products, attractions and services of, say Pampanga and Central Luzon, put up in Cebu and Davao, and those of the two in turn set up in Pampanga will help in generating interest in what each has to offer,” said the governor. “Interest that would easily translate to actual purchase of products and availment of services such as tours, visits and vacations.”
Pivotal though in such enterprise, Pineda noted, is the easy accessibility of the places of interest.
“We need to have easy and direct access to these places. Hindi na puede yung kailangan pa tayong dumaan ng Manila to go to Cebu or Davao or those from there to come here to Pampanga,” she said.
Toward that end, Pineda said she will push for more flights at the Clark International Airport (CIA) in coordination with all six governors of Central Luzon.
Currently Cebu is the only domestic destination served through Clark.
Until two years ago when it transferred its operations to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Philippines AirAsia had regular flights between Clark and Puerto Princesa, Kalibo, and Davao.
Pineda said she would ask her fellow governors to “lend full support” to Clark International Airport Corp. President- CEO Emigdio Tanjuatco III in convincing airline companies to launch or re-launch local flights via Clark.
“We will personally lobby with the airlines if need be,” Pineda added.
