New PAL path boosts tourism

LEGACY carrier Philippine Airlines has announced it is gearing up for the Clark-San Vicente-Clark commercial flight operation beginning Oct. 28.

The new PAL route came five months after the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines completed the construction of San Vicente Airport which was built to boost the tourism industry in Palawan islands.

San Vicente is a first class municipality on the northwestern side of the main island of the province of Palawan and home to the longest white sand beach in the country with a coastline measuring 14.7 kilometers.

The forthcoming PAL flight operation will provide travelers a direct link to the popular ‘Long Beach’ which spans the coastline of four barangays: Poblacion, New Agutaya, San Isidro and Alimanguan. Although ‘Long Beach’ has a few commercial developments, nearby Port Barton has hotel accommodations and dining establishments.

“The upcoming service will also serve as a gateway to the popular El Nido Island. Travelers to El Nido will simply have to take the Clark-San Vicente flight and take a two-hour land trip to reach the island. This brand new route is the answer to the strong clamor for easier connectivity to Palawan’s popular tourist havens,” said PAL Express president Bonifacio Sam.

El Nido, a municipality on Palawan island, is known for white-sand beaches, coral reefs and as the gateway to the Bacuit archipelago, a group of islands with steep karst cliffs.

The five times PAL weekly flight service operation (Sunday/Monday/Wednesday/Friday/Saturday) between Clark and San Vicente will operate, as follows: PR 2662 leaving Clark at 7 am and arrive at 8:40 am in San Vicente, and PR 2663 will leave San Vicente at 9 am and will arrive at 10:40 am in Clark.

The PAL management recently came up with the adjusted flight frequency in support of the government’s decision to temporarily close or limit access to the world famous Boracay for urgent major environmental rehabilitation of the island.

The airline expanded flights to a number of other Philippine tourist and provincial destinations to help ensure the continued growth of domestic tourism.

On Oct. 28, PAL will also mount flights to San Jose, gateway to the country’s largest coral reef system and the world’s second largest, Apo Reef.

The four times weekly service (Monday/Wednesday/Friday/Sunday) between Clark and San Jose, Mindoro will operate, as follows: PR 2610 will be leaving Clark at 11 am and arrive in San Jose at 11:45 am, while the return flight to Clark will leave at 12:05 pm and arrive at 12:50 pm.