BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya—After long years of hibernation, the Bagabag Airport finally opens on May 17 for the weekly Clark-Bagabag flights.
Operated by Wakay Air Services, the flight’s Dornier 328 30-seater plane will come from Clark in Pampanga on its inaugural flight with Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo, along with local and foreign tourists to witness and attend the official opening of the airport.
Also expected to attend the airport’s inauguration are provincial officials of Nueva Vizcaya, Ifugao, and Mountain Province, and other dignitaries from the Cagayan Valley region.
“This is an important milestone for the three provinces, since this event will open them to tourist traffic, making Bagabag the gateway to the Cordillera Administrative Region as well as the southern Cagayan Valley region,” said Virgilio Maguigad, Department of Tourism regional director for Cagayan Valley.
Classified as a community airport by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, Bagabag is the closest airport to the Banaue Rice Terraces, the Sagada caves, and other tourists destinations in the Cordilleras.
Nueva Vizcaya Gov. Carlos Padilla said the opening of the Clark-Bagabag flight will boost tourist arrivals in the two regions, as it cuts the usual eight- to 10-hour trip north by land from Manila by more than half.
“This will also trigger the establishment of more tourism-related development projects in both regions, so that more tourists will visit our sites, attractions and other potential tourist areas, including historical attractions that the regions can offer,” he said.
