Cheers, hopes, and heartfelt gratitude filled the air in Caticlan, Aklan, on Monday as President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. personally led the groundbreaking ceremony for the PhP2.5-billion Passenger Terminal Building (PTB) at the Godofredo P. Ramos Airport—a moment that brought pride and renewed optimism to the local community.

“We’re very excited that finally this is happening for our province—the construction of a new terminal building at Godofredo P. Ramos Airport,” Aklan Governor Jose Enrique M. Miraflores said in an interview with the Presidential News Desk.

Miraflores said the occasion was deeply personal and long overdue, as he expressed his gratitude to President Marcos for prioritizing the project that would surely ease travel to and from the area, thus benefiting the community through improved economic activities.

“For the past few years kasi mahirap din ’yung situation traveling across the runway. So at least with this new terminal building, we expect na more and more tourists will come to Boracay dahil magiging world-class na rin ’yung airport namin dito,” Miraflores said.

The new PTB of the Caticlan airport is a long-awaited project by local leaders working hard to boost the island’s tourism economy and improve travel for millions of visitors to the world-famous Boracay with its powdery white sands and sensational sunsets in pink and gold.

The governor emphasized the significance of the terminal not just as an infrastructure but as a cornerstone for economic progress.

“Ito ’yung hinihintay namin na project for our province—for our tourism industry. Especially sa tourism industry namin, ito lagi ’yung hinahanapan ng improvement kung paano ba namin mapalaki ang economy natin dito nang mas mabilis,” the governor said.

“With this new terminal building, we’re expecting na ’yung mga turista will be coming more, mas maraming pupunta dito dahil makikita na nila na may bago na airport na kumpara po doon sa iba na tourist destinations sa Pilipinas,” he added. l PND