Administration Building Complex,
Laguindingan Airport, Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental
October 20, 2017
“Cebu Pacific is leading the pack in entrepreneurial boldness,” said President Rodrigo Roa Duterte as he graced Cebu Pacific’s launch of CGY —the airport code for Cagayan de Oro— as its 7th domestic hub in the country at the Laguindingan Airport in Misamis Oriental.
The President hailed Cebu Pacific for expanding its services in Mindanao even with the challenges created by extremism in some parts of the region and said, “Despite the current situation in Marawi City, Cebu Pacific has seen the promise of what Mindanao can be and can become in the coming years.”
President Duterte further asked the officials and employees of the company to become the country’s partner in effecting meaningful and lasting changes in society through their resilient and bold entrepreneurial spirit.
He further discussed the issues of terrorism and Martial Law in Mindanao, sayin, “Kapag nakatagilid na ang bayan, and we are overwhelmed by the forces of the enemy — lahat na, terrorism, rebellion on so many fronts — I will not hesitate to declare Martial Law.”
President Duterte also expressed his gratitude to the soldiers responsible for helping rid the country of the threats of religious extremism and violent rebels, and said that not everyone is given the chance to become a hero, and even less those who choose to become one.
The administration’s war against illegal drugs and criminality was also discussed by the President wherein he said that most police operations against illegal drugs were in marginal communities because that is where most of the drugs are. “Kayo po ang palengke ng shabu, wala po yan sa Forbes Park… Ang market ng shabu ay yung mahihirap na community,” he added
President Duterte was joined in the event by Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade, Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) Secretary Jesus Dureza, Cebu Pacific President and CEO Lance Gokongwei, other government officials, and Cebu Pacific officials and employees.
Cebu Pacific added CGY —the gateway to Northern Mindanao— as another domestic hub to expand its operations in the Mindanao region, allowing more direct flights from Laguindingan Airport to domestic destinations such as Boracay (Caticlan Airport) and Dumaguete City, totaling to nine (9) Cebu Pacific air routes to and from the new hub.
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