International flights in Aklan

One cannot envy Rep. Florencio Miraflores for crowing on the fact that Aklan will be the first Visayan area that will receive flights from abroad in March. Next week, the Asian Spirit will hold its inaugural flights from South Korea direct to Kalibo Airport.

That will make Aklan the first province in Western Visayas to receive an international flight. That will precede even the inaugural flights to the soon-to-be opening airports of international standards of Sta. Barbara, Iloilo province, and the Silay Airport in Silay City.

Both are due for completion this year. But there has been no word yet as to their operationalization.

When Asian Spirit opens its South Korean-Kalibo flight, that also presages a possible tourism boom in Aklan. This means that there will be more employment opportunities and growth of the tourism and service industries.

Miraflores also said there will be P50 million more in the 2007 budget for the Kalibo terminal. These implements are specifically designed for its international section.

The solon also said that arrangements are being finalized with the immigration bureau and the customs bureau to avoid lags in the processing of arrivals and departures.

Asian Spirit, meanwhile, is also readying its aircrafts for direct flights. This means it may employe its MD 82 which has a 167-passenger capacity. It is classified as a medium range aircraft.

It is a fact that Boracay of Aklan is considered today one of the top tourist destinations of the Philippines for foreign visitors. That is why by making available direct flights from South Korea to Kalibo, the Asian Spirit may encourage more Koreans to visit Boracay via Kalibo.

Statistics show that Koreans outpace other nationals in terms of tourist arrivals last year and several years prior.

Boracay's tourism industry has been raking into the province of Aklan billions of dollars annually in revenues. It has also provided more employment, not only to local residents, but also has drawn into the province outsiders especially in the service industry.

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What's the biggest joke? This was the report from Roxas City that former Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn "Joc-Joc" Bolante is running for congressman in the second district of Capiz.

A local newspaper quoted sources close to Bolante as claiming that the wanted official will run under the ticket of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's KAMPI.

There was no explanation how that could be possible since Bolante is still under detention in the US, awaiting court action on his request for political asylum.

Chances of his being able to get out from behind bars remain very slim for the moment. So, it seems it's just like the PR project of Pacman.

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Which now reminds me that Manny Pacquiao is reportedly hell-bent on running for congressman in South Cotabato.

But it seems what must have escaped his notice is that no less than chairman Benjamin Abalos of the Commission on Elections had earlier stated that he could not be eligible to run for any position, especially local, since he does not have the necessary residency time.

Yes, he can vote, but he cannot be eligible to run for any public office there, was how Abalos put it.

So, why does Ben not clarify the whole thing to put an end, once and for all, to the speculation about Pacman's plans. Although, of course, I know that it is a PR ploy, but that is something that helps sow confusion among both his critics and sympathizers.

Simple. If he cannot run because of the residency requirement, then there's no reason for the controversy that the running of Pacman has stoked so far.

He should know. He has a lot of advisers with him. And it is impossible for him not to have known about the provisions regarding the qualifications needed by one who is running for an elective position.

That's the same report about Bolante's running for congress. No basis whatsoever.

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How come the city's Sangguniang Panlalawigan had to appropriate P59 million as down payment to Hilmarc's when that is supposed to be paid for by either the Land Bank of the Philippines or the Philippine National Bank when the loan is released by either of the two banks?

Okay, so Hilmarc's is demanding for the P59 million as down payment for the project.

Then, why not just tell Hilmarc's that the 15 percent is supposed to be taken from the P400 million which the city government has borrowed from the LBP. Or, as case of non-compliance with that, from the PNB.*

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