The country’s “Rodeo Capital” tourism potential will further be enhanced with the official announcement of the provincial government that daily direct flights will be operational starting next month.
Cebu Pacific Air’s wholly-owned subsidiary, CebGo, 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.
Masbate Vice Governor Kaye Revil said 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.
The lady vice governor 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 fast-craft to Masbate City.
Revil, a tourism advocate, noted that the new flight will help boost the forthcoming Rodeo Festival, the country’s biggest cowboy-themed event which gathers ranchers from “across the archipelago to showcase their skills,” she said.
For their part, Cebgo president and CEO Alexander Lao said that their company remain firm in bringing people together through safe, affordable, reliable, and fun-filled air travel.
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 islands various attractions which is known for its sprawling cattle ranches, awesome rock formations, breath-taking viewpoints, pristine white-sand 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.