A MEMBER of Congress is pushing for the development of the feeder airport in the municipality of Guiuan, Eastern Samar as an additional gateway to Eastern Visayas, saying it would strengthen connectivity, spur economic growth, and create more jobs across the region.
Eastern Samar Lone District Rep. Christopher Sheen Gonzales said he would seek the inclusion of Guiuan Airport in the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) Aviation Transport Infrastructure Program, which provides funding for the modernization and upgrading of airports nationwide.
The annual program finances the construction, rehabilitation, and improvement of airport infrastructure, including runways, taxiways, passenger terminals, air traffic control towers, perimeter fences, and navigational equipment such as night-landing systems.
At a recent congressional hearing on the House bill seeking to renew the legislative franchise of Cebu Air Inc., Gonzales also urged the carrier to consider operating domestic commercial flights to and from Guiuan Airport.
Airline officials said they would study the lawmaker’s request. Cebu Air operates Cebu Pacific, the country’s largest carrier.
Guiuan Airport has a 2,094-meter runway and is classified by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines as a feeder airport.
“Airports are engines of economic growth because they connect communities to the rest of the country, creating opportunities for tourism, trade, investment, and employment,” Gonzales said.
“A modern and fully operational provincial airport can attract more visitors, support micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), encourage new businesses, and make the local economy more competitive,” he added.
Gonzales said developing provincial airports is a long-term investment that strengthens regional connectivity and opens new markets for local producers.
“Thriving airports also create jobs and give provinces like Eastern Samar a stronger foundation for sustained economic growth and improved household incomes,” he said.
Guiuan Airport played a vital role in disaster response following the onslaught of Super Typhoon Yolanda in 2013, serving as Samar Island’s principal hub for relief and humanitarian operations.
The original Guiuan airfield was built by American forces during World War II.
Gonzales previously served as Guiuan mayor and Eastern Samar provincial vice governor.
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