The provincial government here is embarking on a massive runway expansion project in Bantayan Island Airport as it positions the island into a world-class tourist destination.

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia said Thursday the project would extend the airport’s current runway at 1.2 kilometers to up to at least 1.5 kilometers for safe landing and takeoff.

Garcia underscored the need for the airport to become commercially viable for big airline companies, such as Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific.

“Our vision is to make Bantayan a world-class tourist destination. I hope that this undertaking is for the benefit of the people of Bantayan,” she said in a press statement.

The provincial government is looking at the possibility of extending the runway to as much as three kilometers, but added this may not happen just yet but in the “near future”.

The capitol is now in talks with 63 lot owners in possession of a combined 22.5 hectares of land in Bantayan for the purchase of their properties to the provincial government to give way to the expansion project.

The Bantayan Island Airport has been operational since April 2023 and has cut the travel time from Mactan Island to Bantayan from five hours down to 25 minutes. (PNA)