[ Manila Bulletin Online ] April 2, 2008
KALIBO, Aklan — Rep. Florencio T. Miraflores of the lone district of Aklan has called for the fast-tracking of the development of Kalibo airport into a modern international airport.
Miraflores issued the call during the Kapihan sa Aklan, a media forum under the auspices of the Aklan Press Club, Inc. (APCI) and the Publishers Association of the Philippines, Inc (PAPI), in partnership with the Aklan Media Forum (AMF), held at the Kusina Restaurant here.
The weekly forum, intended to discuss and analyze socio-economic, cultural and political issues, took up government plans to develop the airport in Kalibo, given the increasing number of tourists visiting the world-famous Boracay resort island.
Among those who joined the discussion were lawyer Allen Salas Quimpo, a former Aklan congressman, president of the Northwestern Visayan Colleges; Dr. Benny A. Palma, president of the Aklan State University; Atty. Ronquillo C. Tolentino, former Aklan vice-governor and former APCI president, and APCI president Dr. Ambrosio R. Villorente.
Attended by concerned citizens from various sectors and covered by Aklan’s tri-media journalists, the forum was handled by media men Odon Bandiola and Allen Alcedo as hosts with Boy Ryan Zabal, president of the Aklan Police and Defense Press Corps and Billy R. Arguelles of AMF as coordinators.
In his remarks, Miraflores underscored the urgent need to speed up the development of the Kalibo Airport into what he called a "visionary and futuristic air transport hub of the country."
The Aklan lawmaker cited Kalibo’s strategic location not just in Panay Island , but throughout Central Philippines, making it imperative for the national government to give it priority attention.
_______________________________________________________________________
