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Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade are looking at increasing the capacity of inbound flights in the country, particularly for returning Filipinos.

Tugade said the suggestion was already forwarded to the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) to be included in the meeting this Wednesday.

He added that at present inbound travelers are capped at 2,000 and should this be increased, the plan is to open up more gateways in other regions.

“Alam niyo, ‘yung capacity ngayon mga 2,000 yata ‘yan. Kung lahat ‘yan darating lang sa NAIA at darating lang sa Clark, konti sa Clark tapos konti sa Cebu, mabubulunan po sila,” he said during a virtual press briefing.

Kaya nga ba’t sinasabi ko, kung itataas natin ‘yung capacity from 2,000 to say 3,000, kailangan dagdagan din natin ‘yung tinatawag na gateways. ‘Wag mong i-limit lang sa NAIA ‘yan,” he said.

Tugade said he has also instructed the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) to coordinate with local governments on the possible opening up of regional airports with international flights.

“Habang lumalaki at nagdadagdag ka ng gateways, ‘yung ekonomiya ng local will also be helped kasi nadiyadiyaan ‘yung restaurant, ‘yung hotel. Kaya nga ba sinisipat din ‘yan,” he said.

For his part, CAAP Chief-of-Staff Atty. Danjun Lucas said the agency has already conducted preliminary talks with local governments, as resolutions are needed for international flights to resume in their respective areas.

Lucas said flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) is looking at mounting international flights from Kuala Lumpur to Panglao on October 6 and 9, 2021.

“Willing po ang Philippine Airlines, makakapagdagdag po ‘yun nga mga facility para makapagdagdag tayo ng capacity ng mga international arrivals,” he said.

“Inuumpisahan natin ‘yan sa GenSan at Panglao. Marami pa po tayong mga iniisip na mga regional international airports na maaring tumanggap,” he added.

PAL, which recently filed for bankruptcy in the United States, last week called on the government to consider easing travel and quarantine restrictions for fully vaccinated individuals.