Frasco welcomes privatization of int’l airports

Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco (center) is the guest of honor during the opening on Oct. 15 of the 26th Siargao Surfing Festival. (DALE ISRAEL / INQUIRER VISAYAS)

SIARGAO — Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco has expressed support for proposals to privatize international airports across the country.

“The benchmark of the privatization of airports is the airport of Cebu, which is now one of the best airports in Asia, and we have seen how this has completely transformed travel to and from Cebu,” Frasco said at the sidelights of the opening on Oct. 15 of the Siargao International Surfing Festival.

Frasco said public-private partnerships for airports would usher the uplifting of airports to global standards.

“As you know, we recently inaugurated, with President Marcos, the brand new terminal of Clark International Airport, which is also a result of the PPP,” she said.

“So there are benchmarks for its success, and we look forward to improve all our regional international airports through this (scheme).”

For Siargao airport, Frasco said she would work on getting back direct international flights for the island to boost its tourism industry.

She will also work on getting more flights to Siargao from other parts of the country.

The long-term plan would be to expand the existing airport in Siargao to accommodate more tourists and bigger aircraft.

Frasco was the guest of honor during the 26th Siargao Surfing Festival competition attended by professional surfers across the globe.

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