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Malaysian Airlines to Fly Zambo-Tawi-Tawi-Malaysia Route
The Phoenix Airways of a Malaysian Airline company will soon fly the Zamboanga-Bongao-Sandakan route starting this month, it was learned Friday. Its operations will link the Zamboanga Peninsula, province of Tawi-Tawi and Sabah, which is on the northern part of Malaysia. "I feel elated after learning about this development because this goes to show that the three-port route to include Bongao [capital of Tawi-Tawi] will trigger an atmosphere conducive to economic enhancement," said Sahali.
The operations of the Phoenix Airways will be the second link through air transportation between this city and the province of Tawi-Tawi. At present, a 19-seater passenger plane of the South East Asian Air Lines (SEAIR) flies five times a week from this city to Bongao, Tawi-Tawi, and vice-versa. Meanwhile, it was learned from Sadikul that a team of investors from Sabah, Malaysia, would soon go to Tawi-Tawi to engage in diving-resort business in the province. The governor was on a recent five-day trip to Malaysia, where he lobbied for investments in Tawi-Tawi by presenting trade concepts.
He learned from the Malaysian investors that divers visiting Malaysia are looking for an alternative place as the Sipadan Beach Resort, once a perfect venue for diving, solely operates only at day-time after the infamous mass abduction of 21 people, mostly Europeans, by Abu Sayyaf in 2000. He said that divers find it exciting to dive at nighttime at Sipadan Beach, but its operation is confined only from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. owing to security reasons. Sahali said that divers opt to tap the beaches in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi's capital, which is near Sabah, Malaysia. He said the Malaysian investors are also eyeing Tawi-Tawi as another venue for ecotourism business.
ZAMBOANGA CITY 1/10/2004
