President Marcos Leads Groundbreaking of New Caticlan Terminal to Boost Tourism and Regional Growth
Caticlan, The Gulf Observer: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday led the groundbreaking and time capsule-laying ceremony for the new Caticlan Passenger Terminal Building (PTB) at the Caticlan Airport, marking a significant milestone in the Philippines’ push for regional connectivity, tourism development, and economic growth.
The new two-story terminal, set to rise in Malay, Aklan — the gateway to the world-renowned Boracay Island — is designed to process up to 3,000 passengers at any given time, with an estimated annual capacity of seven million travelers. Spanning 36,470 square meters, the facility will feature six passenger boarding bridges and 36 check-in counters. Completion is targeted for 2027.
“We are slowly putting together the building blocks of our policy of opening up our tourist areas and business areas to international travelers without having to go through the Manila airport,” President Marcos said in his address, underscoring the government’s strategy to decentralize air travel and ease congestion at the capital’s airport.
The design-and-build contract for the terminal was awarded in 2024 to Megawide Construction Corporation, while Trans Aire Development Holdings Corp. (TADHC), a subsidiary of San Miguel Corporation (SMC) Infrastructure, will own and operate the facility.
President Marcos emphasized that infrastructure upgrades like the Caticlan terminal are key to enhancing accessibility to top tourist destinations. “Although Manila airport is improving… it would be much easier for our tourists or for any travelers na diretso na sila dito sa Caticlan,” he noted.
He also highlighted similar improvements underway at other regional airports, including those in Iloilo, Bohol, and Siargao.
Describing the ferry transfer to Boracay as “a part of the experience,” the President recalled his own travels to the island and affirmed the role of seamless connectivity in shaping a positive visitor journey.
Tourism currently contributes nearly 8 percent to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), and President Marcos stressed that developments like the Caticlan terminal are essential to boosting that number.
“This is one step… the beginning of the journey, and that journey is to bring the Philippines once again to the forefront of the rest of the world,” he said. “This is a place where people can invest, where they can vacation, and where businessmen can come and do business.”
The new terminal is expected to play a crucial role in advancing the government’s long-term goals of sustainable tourism, regional development, and inclusive economic growth.
