THE provincial government is considering to develop a regular commercial seaplane flight plan from Metro Manila to Pangasinan to further boost the province’s tourism industry after its test flight successfully landed in Alaminos City, the home of the Hundred Islands National Park, on November 19.

Gov. Ramon Guico III, himself a pilot, said Monday that they “have been thinking of ways to connect the province to the central business district in Metro Manila while we do not yet have an airport in Bolinao and Alaminos”.

Guico, together with his father, Fifth District Rep. Ramon Guico Jr were ferried by Airtrav RP-C1208 seaplane’s test flight that took off from Binalonan airport to Limahong Channel in Lingayen then to the waters of Hundred Islands. They were met in Hundred Islands by First District Rep. Arthur Celeste.

“It was okay, [the test flight was] successful. There are initial hurdles, of course,” Guico said. Sea condition is one of the primary considerations in operating an amphibious plane, he added.

“These flights will be good for our tourism and people’s daily commute, especially those who have to go back and forth from Pangasinan to Manila,” Guico said.

“It’s just 40 minutes, so it will save you a lot of time,” he added. A seaplane can accommodate 8 to 10 passengers.

Guico said they are now trying to convince the operator to have flights in Pangasinan.

The planned seaplane’s flight itinerary will be Manila Bay to Lingayen, the Hundred Islands, and other coastal towns in Pangasinan.

Meanwhile, Guico said the provincial government has allocated P800 million for the first phase of the Bolinao airport project. “The runway will be finished by next year, and in two years, the airport is operational,” Guico said. (Eva Visperas)

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