Senate panel seeks tourism masterplan for Philippine airports, seaports, other transport hubs

The Senate Committee on Tourism is pushing for a Masterplan for Infrastructure and Development, a long-term blueprint that outlasts political terms and ensures airports, seaports, and transport hubs are world-class.  

“In filing the resolution, this representation would like to know the Department of Tourism’s priority in implementing its development plan. In an archipelagic nation like ours, connectivity should not be a luxury; it is a necessity,” Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito stressed during Tuesday’s public hearing, February 3, 2026, of the Committee on Tourism.

“Expensive airfares are often just a symptom of poor facilities and neglected infrastructure. When our airports lack the capacity, when our runways are too short for larger planes, and when we lack night-rating capabilities, the Filipino traveler primarily pays the price,” he added.

According to Ejercito, the National Tourism Development Plan 2023 to 2028 has recognized Philippine tourism as a “massive engine of national growth and development”. He said this is a fitting statement since tourism plays a major role in providing jobs, fueling the local economies, and serving as our window to the rest of the world.

Based on the 2025 World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) Economic Impact Report, the Philippines ranked first in terms of tourism GDP valued at USD 91.8 billion–the highest in ASEAN–surpassing other major regional tourism economies such as Indonesia (US$71.7 billion), Thailand (US$67.3 billion), and Singapore (US$54.6 billion).

Tourism accounts for 19.9 percent of the Philippine economy, placing the country among the most tourism-significant economies in Southeast Asia, both in scale and impact. However, when it comes to tourism infrastructure, the Philippines ranked 69th out of 117 economies in 2025.

In a statement, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) said that it fully understand the concerns of passengers regarding the high fares on some domestic flights.

In line with the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Acting DOTr Secretary Giovanni Lopez, various measures are already being implemented to help bring down the cost of airline tickets to local destinations.

"Ang DOTr at ang CAAP ay tinutugunan ang suliraning ito sa pamamagitan ng pagpapahaba ng mga runway upang ito ay makapagserbisyo mg malalaking jet aircraft. Ang proyektong ito ay naisakatuparan na sa airport ng Antique, samantalang ang ganitong proyekto sa Busuanga airport ay matatapos na rin. Isusunod na din ang iba pang mga airport sa bansa," it said.

Meanwhile, Senator Erwin Tulfo underscores the importance of intensifying law enforcement efforts to improve peace and order in the country to attract more foreigners to visit the Philippines’ tourist destinations.

“Tourism is very important to the country's economy and the livelihoods of many Filipinos, but we still have many problems with infrastructure, safety, and the quality of facilities,” Tulfo explained

“It's not just about infrastructure, I believe, in my opinion, our problem is peace and order. That's not the fault of the DOT; it's not within their purview. That's the responsibility of the PNP, AFP, and other law enforcement agencies. Perhaps if we ensure their safety, more tourists will come to our country," Tulfo said.

"So, taken together, this measure promotes tourism that is sustainable, inclusive, and anchored on safety, accessibility, and good governance,” he added.

-Paraluman News