JV Ejercito bats for expansion of airports in Maasin, Ormoc, other areas to boost tourism

Former senator Joseph Victor ‘JV’ Ejercito inspects Maasin Airport with Maasin City Mayor Nikko Mercado. Ejercito said he will support the expansion of the airport to boost Southern Leyte’s tourism industry.

MANILA, Philippines – Senatorial candidate Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito said he will support the expansion and operationalization of airports in Leyte, Southern Leyte and Davao Oriental to help boost local tourism.

In an interview with Like FM, former senator Ejercito said he will support the expansion of Maasin Airport in Southern Leyte to boost the province’s tourism sector. 

Ejercito said expanding the airport will make it easier for tourists from different parts of the country to visit Southern Leyte, which is around three hours from the  Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport in Tacloban City, Leyte.  

Ejercito also said he had supported funding for other airports such as in Mati City in Davao Oriental and Ormoc Airport in Leyte to help the tourism industry. 

“Dapat buhayin natin ang Maasin Airport para mabuhay natin ang turismo at ekonomiya ng Southern Leyte,” he said. 

Ejercito, who was one of the staunchest defenders of the Department of Transportation’s budget during his first term in the Senate, said infrastructure development will unleash the potential of Southern Leyte’s tourism sector. 

“Dito naman sa Maasin, in particular, ang ganda-ganda ng Southern Leyte. Ang ganda ng lugar, sobrang ganda. Its potential for tourism development ay napakaganda,” he said, 

“So, dapat siguro yung airport dito, for example, magawa na natin. We can stretch it to accommodate ng malalaking aircraft para yung turismo mas mabuhay natin pag may flights na dito,” he added.

At present, the province’s tourism sector is still reeling from the devastation left behind by Typhoon Odette.

According to the Department of Tourism, around 90 percent of the province’s tourism facilities were damaged by the tropical cyclone. 

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