Kota Kinabalu & Sabah News

More Flights to Clark Airport Encouraged

Airlines are encouraged by the local businessmen to have more flights to Clark Airport (CRK) in Pampanga, Philippines, which could greatly ease the congestion at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Manila and bring in more tourists.  In a forum with the Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC), Arni Valdes, president of the Metro Angeles Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc., said that Pampanga is a gateway to other tourist destinations in the country as well as an ideal location for investment opportunities.  MJ Olidan, president of the Hotel and Restaurants Association in Pampanga (HARP) said that the recent developments at Clark are very favorable for their group and suggested more North America flights while Gilda Padua, past president of the Alliance of Travel and Tour Agencies in Pampanga (ATTAP), suggested additional flights to Tacloban and the revival of CRK-Kuala Lumpur and CRK-Kota Kinabalu flights.

On his part, CIAC President and CEO Alexander Cauguiran said that Clark Airport usually caters to the passengers from Northern and Central Luzon.  He added that in 2015, up to 27 percent of the passengers that used NAIA are from those areas.  He also assured the local businessmen that there are ongoing negotiations for direct flights to US, Japan, Kuala Lumpur and other Asian destinations.  A new terminal building is being constructed and is expected to be finished by 202 with an expected capacity of 8 million passengers.

In an earlier statement, Jaime Bautista, president of the Philippine Airlines (PAL), said that they are willing to help the government’s aim in decongesting NAIA.  On the other hand, the limited capacity at NAIA has limited their growth and Clark Airport offers an opportunity for them to further develop as the nation’s flag-carrier.

China’s second-largest carrier, China Eastern Airlines, announced last week that negotiations with CIAC had been successful and flights from Pudong International Airport, Shanghai, will start October 18.

Dialogues With Civil Servants on TN50 Encouraged

Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Ali Hamsa said that department heads of government agencies are encouraged to conduct dialogues with their staff on the National Transformation 2050 (TN50).  This is just one of the ways where civil servants can have the opportunity to express their hopes and aspirations for a better nation by 2050.

Ali was in Sabah for a dialogue with the civil servants there, held at the Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS).  This was the second dialogue, the first was in Putrajaya last May.  In both dialogues, many hope for sustainable environment conservation, better security, and quality education.  Another dialogue will be in Kuching, Sarawak, on July 21.

The Shore Project Launched

“The Shore” project of the Titijaya Land Bhd was recently launched, a waterfront premium mixed commercial development project with a 25-storey residential and commercial building.  Upon completion in 2022, The Shore is expected to boost business and tourism activities in Sabah and will be the first full-fledged serviced residence in Kota Kinabalu.  The ground-breaking ceremonies were held Tuesday in the presence of Sabah Minister of Local Government and Housing Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor.