By JIGGER J. JERUSALEM
Correspondent
AIRPORT and aviation officials in Northern Mindanao are expecting a significant decrease of passenger volume in the region as Metro Manila implements a “community quarantine” as ordered by President Duterte amid the novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) threat.
Ariel Paderan, spokesperson for the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (Caap) in the region, said they are anticipating the number of passengers to go down by as much as 50 percent due to Duterte’s order to put Metro Manila on lockdown.
He said there are more than 20 flights to and from Manila daily in Caap-10’s three airports (Laguindingan, Camiguin, and Ozamiz).
Paderan did not cite the exactly number of passengers to and from Manila, but in an interview, Job de Jesus, Laguindingan Airport manager, said there are about 6,000 passengers and an average of 58 flights a day.
Paderan said the decision to cancel flights would come from the Civil Aeronautics Board or from Caap.
“The cancellation of flights will affect the revenue of the airport, as we will only be catering to flights to and from Davao, Zamboanga, Cebu, Clark and other areas once the lockdown is in effect,” he said.
He said Caap-10 and airline companies were scheduled to meet and discuss procedures of the lockdown that would take effect tomorrow.
