Masbate is CebGo’s new destination starting Feb. 15

DISCOVER more of the country’s “Rodeo Capital” as Cebgo, Cebu Pacific Air’s wholly owned subsidiary, flies to Masbate starting Feb. 15.

Flight DG 6177 will fly daily from the NAIA Terminal 4 at 8:20 a.m., and will return from Masbate via Flight DG 6178 at 9:50 a.m., utilizing the airline’s new ATR-72-600

“We remain firm in bringing people together through safe, affordable, reliable, and fun-filled air travel. With these additional routes, travelers will now be able to visit these destinations faster while enjoying CEB’s trademark low fares. Rest assured, we will continue expanding our network to reach more passengers in and out the Philippines,” said Cebgo President and Chief Executive Officer Alexander Lao.

He said the addition of this new route will allow passengers to easily visit this fast-rising island province which is strategically located in the Bicol region and near the Visayas.

Composed of three major islands, Masbate takes pride in its sprawling cattle ranches, awesome rock formations, breath-taking viewpoints, pristine whitesand beaches and sandbars, Spanish era churches and ancestral houses, and marine sanctuaries ideal for diving and snorkeling. Its signature dive site is the Manta Bowl in Ticao Island.

According to Masbate Vice-Governor Kaye Revil, the new flight is a fruit of the persistent requests of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan and the City Government of Masbate via official resolutions since 2013 to provide a more affordable air transportation alternative to the province.

She said that for the past few years, the provincial government has been pursuing tourism and promotions, special events, and has put in place the Tourism Code to entice the airline to assign an aircraft to the Masbate route.

At present, passengers usually fly to Legazpi City Cebu Pacific for affordable flights, then take a 1-hour van to Pilar port in Sorsogon and a 2.5-hour fastcraft to Masbate City.

She added that their constituents mobilized social media to petition the carrier that that new aircraft be flown to Masbate.

She recently met Cebu Pacific CEO Lance Gokongwei to follow up on their standing request.

“The new flight will help boost the forthcoming Rodeo Festival, the country’s biggest cowboythemed event which gathers ranchers from across the archipelago to showcase their skills,” she said.

Mr. Revil, a tourism advocate, noted that Masbate has trended several times on social media platforms in 2016 because of the Province’s tourism push.