(NI KEVIN COLLANTES)

INIANUNSIYO ng Department of  Transportation (DOTr) na simula nitong Linggo, Oktubre 27, ay maaari nang dumaan sa Clark International Airport ang mga biyahero na may planong magtungo sa Korea.

Pinangunahan pa mismo ni Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade ang travel at tourism officials, mga guests at VIPs, sa idinaos na inaugural ceremony ng bagong ruta ng Korean Air, sa pagitan ng Clark at Incheon, South Korea, sa Clark International Airport.

Sa pulong sa DOTr Air sector officials, nagtungo si Tugade sa Clark at sinaksihan ang pagdating ng maiden voyage ng Flight KE635, ng Korean Air, na sinalubong ng Ceremonial Water Cannon Salute sa tarmac.

Kasama ni Tugade sa pagsalubong sa mga pasahero ng KE635 sina Korean Air Regional Manager Cheol Lee, Luzon International Premier Airport Development (LIPAD) Corp. President and CEO Bi Yong Chungunco, at dating BCDA Senior Vice President Joshua Bingcang.

Kabilang din naman sa mga sumaksi sa seremonya sina DOTr Undersecretary for Aviation and Airports Manuel Tamayo, CAAP Director General Jim Sydiongco, OTS Administrator Raul Del Rosario, Clark International Airport Corporation Jaime Melo, DOT Regional Director Carolina Uy, CDC Tourism Promotions Manager Noemi Julian, Korea Tourism Organization Director Joon Kil Jo, at iba pang ehekutibo mula sa travel sector.

“Today, it’s not about coming in and flying out, it’s all about trust. And I know that Korean Air came here not only because of the revenue that is to be generated, but more importantly, and this was mentioned to me by Ambassador Han – ‘we are going to Clark, if we are going to expand our operations in the Philippines, it’s because we want to show faith and trust in the Republic of the Philippines. It is because we want to show our support to President Duterte.’ – And it is for this reason that I come today, to accept the manifestation that this government is ready and willing to work with you hand in hand,” ayon kay Tugade.

Muli ring inihayag ng kalihim na ang Clark ay nananatiling kaakit-akit at viable na destinasyon para sa air traffic at logistics hub sa Central Luzon, at ang pagpapatuloy sa full development nito bilang alternatibong gateway ay higit pang makapagpapahusay sa industriya ng travel at tourism ng bansa.Nabatid na ang Clark-to-Incheon flight ay bibiyahe araw-araw, at may isang round trip kada araw.