Mayor cancels domestic flights to, from Puerto Princesa due to COVID-19

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY –– Mayor Lucilo Bayron has ordered the cancelation of all domestic flights in Puerto Princesa International Airport (PPIA) from March 15 to April 14.

Bayron, in an order issued Friday, said there was a need to suspend all domestic air travels after health authorities confirmed local transmission of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the country.

“There is a need to suspend all domestic air travels going to and from Puerto Princesa City based on the City Health Department’s strong recommendation to strictly observe “social distancing” to arrest the COVID-19 infection,” he said.

All domestic flights to Clark, Pampanga; Cebu, and Iloilo will be affected.

Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Puerto Princesa manager Efren Nagrama said Friday flights to and from Manila were temporarily suspended based on the implication of community quarantine issued by President Duterte.

However, he said he had yet to issue further advisories based on the subsequent order by Bayron.

“As far as I know, only Puerto Princesa to Manila are suspended. Regarding other domestic flights (Clark, Cebu, and Iloilo), we have yet to check the order,” he said.

Meanwhile, Charo Logarta-Lagamon, spokesperson of Cebu Pacific Inc., said Friday morning that they had yet to receive a copy of the order and that domestic flights would continue until further notice.

Palawan has four airports including PPIA; Lio Airport in El Nido; Busuanga Airport; and San Vicente Airport./lzb