PNoy allocates P110-M to modernize Siargao airport

The Matugas brothers with the Aquino sisters. Photo credit: Jun Lira

By Eugenio Lira, Jr.

DAPA, Surigao del Norte — Malacañang Palace has announced on Wednesday, March 27, a P110-million financial grant from the Social Fund of President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III for the modernization of the Siargao airport.

The move was seen as Malacañang’s support to Rep. Francisco Matugas’ commitment to transform Siargao Island, officially known as the country’s surfing capital, as one of the major tourism destinations in Asia-Pacific region.

The announcement was made during the official visit of DILG Secretary Mar Roxas and DOTC Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya to Siargao Island where they made an ocular inspection of the island’s airport and the proposed runway extension development.

They also inspected the new Tourist Police stations in Dapa and General Luna towns and the newly-converted LTO District Office for Siargao located in Dapa which came into being with  President Benigno Aquino III’s recent approval of R.A. 10391. They also visited Dedon Island Resort and the world-famous Cloud 9 surfing area in General Luna where they met with local officials and discussed  Malacañang’s series of financial aids to support Rep. Matugas’ plans to bring more development to the country’s surfing capital.

Roxas and Abaya promised to lobby for additional speedy release of presidential funds to fast-track improvements in Siargao Island aimed at boosting the tourism businesses in the area. They envisioned the island as one of the major tourism destinations in Asia-Pacific region in the next five to ten years as evidenced by the increasing arrivals of foreign and domestic tourists and the rising data on foreign and domestic investments in the area.

The two also promised to promote Siargao as a “Paradise Island” and to bring the ambassadors of different countries into the place in a confidence-building move for the local economy to open up its door to unlimited opportunities that would be brought by the international tourism community. (JLira, Contributor)