BORONGAN CITY – Eastern Samar hopes to soar on the wings of regular South East Asian Airlines (Sea Air) flights.

For the first time in the history of the province, a commercial plane touched down at the Punta Maria airport at about 12:20 p.m. on Sept. 1 to the applause of hundreds of people who started streaming in as early as 10 a.m. to witness the much-awaited maiden flight.

Cameras flashed, drums boomed and street dancers trooped the runway as the 32-seat plane’s hatch was lowered.

“We made history. Many people have written off Eastern Samar as a typhoon, insurgency and poverty-ravaged province but our unity and undying spirit to lift up Eastern Samar have erased the doubt that Eastern Samar will be in the doldrums of stagnation for a long time,” Gov. Ben Evardone said.

“This will spell progress and job opportunities not only for the city of Borongan but for the entire province as more tourists will come to check and enjoy our beaches, caves, surf camps and other attractions.”

Shared risk

“I thought my dream of seeing a commercial plane in this airport would not come true. For so long a time, this runway has just been a venue for drag racing and driving lessons,” Borongan Mayor Fidel Anacta Jr. said.

After a series of consultations, Sea Air management finally agreed to fly to Borongan. Earlier, the provincial government had tried to court other airlines but was unsuccessful.

Sea Air president Avelino Zapanta said he saw a lot of promise and potential in Eastern Samar due to eco-tourism.

He, however, called on everyone to support Sea Air’s operations. “There is a shared risk on the part of Sea Air management since we still don’t have the idea of the volume of passengers,” he said.

Zapanta thanked the provincial and city governments for promising to chip in P1 million each as buffer fund for low turnout.

All the 32 seats were taken on Sea Air’s inaugural flight from Manila. But only 16 passengers were on the return flight.

Booking agency manager Leo Apolinar, 25, said there was no cause for alarm. At least six passengers are enough for the plane to fly as scheduled.

He cited the lack of information to the public as one of the factors why passengers did not peak.

“It’s exciting to be part of this historic moment for our province,” banker Clarissa Apita-Villalon said.

Sulat Mayor Javier Zacate said the flight was surprisingly smooth and fast even if the plane was small. It only took one hour and 20 minutes from Manila to Borongan, he said.

“But you could tell you are entering Eastern Samar territory because suddenly the flight got bumpy,” Salcedo Mayor Melchor Gagante said in jest, referring to the province’s bad roads.

Local leaders admit that the airport has a long way to go. “The runway is almost 30 years old and there is no waiting lounge for passengers except for the dilapidated Air Transportation Office which has no electricity and water,” Punta Maria barangay chair Nilda Anacta said.

Anacta hopes to see her local residents employed as porters, tourist guides or vendors since the airport, 12 kilometers north of Borongan, is situated in their barangay.

The best is yet to come

Governor Evardone said almost P300 million is needed for the airport to be at par with those of the big cities.

“We are just starting and the best is yet to come for Eastern Samar. Even Tacloban airport just furnished a conveyor belt for pieces of luggage a few months ago.”

President Macapagal-Arroyo has allocated P20 million for the improvement of Borongan airport this year. She has also instructed the Department of Transportation and Communications and the ATO to rehabilitate the airport as they had done with the Calbayog airport, Evardone said.

Borongan Bishop Crispin Varquez said it was high time a commercial plane came to the city.

“I am happy for our people because this will boost our economy and will be convenient for us. Bohol, my home province, Batanes, and Romblon are much smaller in land area and population yet they have flights every day, even the neighboring provinces of Calbayog and Catarman,” he said.

San Policarpo parish priest Dan Ganas said the commercial flight was a welcome development since he would no longer travel to Tacloban for almost 10 hours just to go to Manila. “Going to Manila is like going abroad for us in the farthest municipalities. It’s even better to go abroad since you are spared of the bumpy and powdery ride,” he said.

Ganas, however, said the P5,300 one-way regular fare might not be affordable to the public. The Sea Air staff promised to lower the price anytime this month. Two P3,500 and two P4,300 seats are given to the first four passengers per trip.

Flights are scheduled every Monday and Friday. The Borongan-bound plane leaves Manila at 10:50 a.m. and returns to Manila at 12:45 p.m.