THE GOVERNMENT should consider upgrading the Zamboanga City airport so that it can be used in servicing destinations between Western Mindanao and regional neighbors such as those in the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines-East Asean Growth Area (Bimp-Eaga), representatives of the business sector in the sub-region said last week. The call came after a Philippine-based airline had postponed its plan to service the route between Zamboanga City and Sandakan Malaysia. Datuk Roselan Johar Mohamed, former chair of BE Business Council, said the government must equip the Zamboanga City airport with the necessary landing facilities for aircraft to be able to land anytime of the day. “The Zamboanga airport was not ready to host an international flight due to the lack of a landing system,” he said last week as he turned over the chairmanship of the council, considered the fifth member country in the sub-region, to the Philippines as represented by Vicente T. Lao. The Malaysian official said the council hopes that before the end of the year, the Philippine government will eventually install the needed facilities to be able to attract the airlines to serve the route. Mr. Lao, who has assumed the chairmanship of the Mindanao Business Council, said: “We would like to strengthen connectivity to boost tourism and bring ease in doing business in Bimp-Eaga.” — Carmelito Q. Francisco
