President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered a feasibility inspection for the potential construction of a seaport and airport in the Kalayaan Island Group, a move Malacañang says could jumpstart tourism and create new livelihood streams in one of the country’s most remote municipalities.
In a Palace briefing Wednesday, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said the President directed Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon to conduct an on-site assessment of infrastructure requirements in the island cluster.
PCO Undersecretary Claire Castro said Marcos had instructed officials to visit the Kalayaan Island Group and determine what would be needed to establish a port and an “airway,” laying the groundwork for a more permanent transport link.
The directive comes as the Kalayaan Municipal Tourism Office rolls out limited slots for nine-day, eight-night guided tour packages this month, reflecting rising interest in the far-flung destination. The packages include round-trip sea transfers, lodging and meals, and are open to both domestic and foreign travelers under strict environmental and security protocols.
Situated in the West Philippine Sea and administered by the Municipality of Kalayaan in Palawan, the island group was formally opened to regulated tourism in 2023 through the “Great Kalayaan Expedition.”
Business leaders and local officials say upgraded port and air access could significantly cut travel time, stabilize supply chains, and encourage micro, small and medium enterprises to flourish, particularly on Pag-asa Island. Improved connectivity may also lower logistics costs for goods and construction materials, a longstanding constraint on local development.
Still, authorities emphasized that any infrastructure push would be subject to environmental safeguards and security clearances, balancing economic ambitions with ecological protection and national interest in the strategically sensitive maritime zone.
