Posted on August 1, 2017
By Tara Yap, Manila Bulletin
Kalibo, the capital of Aklan province, should go beyond its tag as the gateway to world-famous Boracay Island.
“We should not forget Kalibo and its tourism potential,” said Governor Florencio (Joeben) Miraflores during his State of the Province Address (SOPA) last Thursday.
Miraflores highlighted in the SOPA that Kalibo should not lag behind in terms of development projects that have heretofore aimed to serve the tourism industry of Boracay Island in Malay town.
This includes being the birthplace of the Ati-Atihan, the annual January celebration that honors the Santo Niño (Holy Child Jesus) and is dubbed as the country’s “Mother of All Festivals.” It also includes the Bakhawan Eco-Park.
Mabuhay Maritime Express Transport Inc., a subsidiary of Philippine Airlines (PAL), is set to undertake a reclamation project with Jan de Nul Group for construction of a ferry port in Kalibo.
“This will be a tourist take-off point from Kalibo Airport to Boracay Island,” Miraflores said.
While Malay town has its own airport, Kalibo International Airport remains Boracay’s entry point, with 80 international flights and 160 domestic flights per week.
From the airport, tourists proceed on a land trip going to Malay, and then transfer to a boat which ferries them to Boracay.
In his SOPA, Miraflores mentioned the gains of the provincial government in real property taxes and improvements of various social services.
Source: Manila Bulletin
