President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. led the groundbreaking of the Caticlan Passenger Terminal Building, aimed to improve travel and tourism in Boracay.

In his speech during the ceremony held at the Caticlan Airport, the President said that the project is part of the government’s efforts to open up the country’s business and tourist areas like Boracay to international travelers without having to go through the Manila airport.

Expected to be completed by 2027, the two-storey Passenger Terminal Building will have a total floor area of 36,470 square meters, six passenger boarding bridges, and 36 individual check-in counters.

It is projected to handle seven million passengers per year, with a simultaneous capacity of 3,000 passengers at any given time.

Marcos noted that the construction of the new terminal building will not only benefit the province of Aklan, but the entire Western Visayas region as well.

Marcos cited ongoing government efforts to improve regional airports across the country to improve access and boost the local economy.

“We have been talking about the Iloilo. We have made agreements in Bohol, in Siargao, and there will be others more. Ngayon ay pinag-uusapan pa lang. So, I don’t want to let the cat out of the bag because they are still in discussions,” he said.

Megawide Construction Corporation (MCC) secured the contract in 2024 to design and build the new Caticlan PTB. The airport is owned and operated by Trans Aire Development Holdings Corp. (TADHC), a subsidiary of San Miguel Corporation (SMC) Infrastructure.

The President expected MCC to complete the project within 24 months.