Tension brewing over Boracay airport project

AKLAN — Residents of this world renowned island resort are up in arms against the undervaluation of their parcels of land set to be expropriated to make way for the expansion of the Caticlan Airport runway.

Antonio Cahilig Jr., president of the Caticlan Land Owners Association, said that a protest action was held last Wednesday to dramatize their grievances and opposition to TransAire Development Holdings Corp’s. (TransAire) plan to purchase their land at values way below the prevailing market rates.

TransAire is a subsidiary of San Miguel Corporation.

Cahilig said TransAire’s offer is only 1,000 per square meter, even though the market rate for real estate property in the area is from 5,000 to 10,000 per square meter.

“We are not opposing airport development. We only want to be paid fairly,” expressed Cahilig.

Cahilig said that at the very least, affected residents should be paid at least 5,000 per square meter.

Some residents have reportedly been ordered by local courts to vacate their homes.

“After our protest rally, we are now studying our next move,” Cahilig added.

The Aklan Provincial Police Office said the protest last Wednesday was peaceful.

Plans to expand and refurbish the Caticlan Airport are aimed at allowing more flights and bigger aircraft to ferry larger number of tourists to Boracay Island, cited by several travel magazines and organizations as one of the best beach destinations in the world.