BASCO, BATANES—The lone representative of the island of Batanes is calling for the national government to pour in more funding for critical infrastructure projects that are badly needed to encourage more guests to visit its breathtaking sites.
In an interview, Batanes Representative Ciriaco Gato disclosed that what Batanes needs are not investments but access roads to and from the Island of Itbayat, Batanes' biggest island, and Sabtang.
“We need more funds for access roads to tourist destinations. And then of course, the communication infrastructure that remains a challenge. In a geographically isolated area like a Batanes, communication is vital for businesses and tourism to boom,” Gato told reporters Wednesday, on the sidelines of the Department of Tourism’s Philippine Experience Program visit to the astounding sites of Batanes with diplomats, tourism stakeholders, and members of the media.
Despite the challenges, Gato acknowledged that the national government has made efforts to improve connectivity in the province, particularly in terms of Wi-Fi access.
"We hope that in the next three years, matatapos na ang program on the WiFi access in all barangays,” Gato noted, noting their openness to welcoming new telecommunications player to the island, aside from telco giants Globe Telecom and Smart Communications.
In her speech, Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco assured the local government of Batanes that the national government—particularly the DoT—stands ready to support the province's infrastructure and connectivity projects to maximize its full potential as a prime tourist destination in the Northern tip of the archipelago.
“Being a town mayor of Liloan, Cebu, I learned that for any tourism destination to succeed, you must have two very basic but vital components. First is infrastructure, and second, is connectivity. The world will discover the beauty of your destination if you will be able to provide them with a convenient opportunity to visit your destination,” Frasco said.
She described the visit to Batanes as a learning opportunity to understand what kind of interventions the National Government can and should provide.
"The national government is here to assist, and we hope that by our collaboration, as well as the assistance of our private sector, we can tell the world about the rich culture of Ivatans and provide opportunities for tourism experiences in Batanes,” she added.
Earlier, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) deployed 72 new Wi-Fi modems to local government units in the province to improve internet connectivity.
DICT had also launched the eGovPH super app and the eLGU system in Batanes last year—platforms that consolidate government services and improve the digital operations of LGUs.
However, some municipalities and barangays, including those in central Basco and especially in more remote areas like Sabtang and Itbayat, continue to suffer from signal dead spots and weak data services.
Apart from Internet connectivity woes, Batanes faces challenges with transportation access and cost.
Currently, Philippine Airlines is the only carrier operating flights from Manila and Clark to Basco, with a one-way ticket costing as much as ₱12,000. Gato said this steep price significantly affects both domestic and foreign tourist arrivals.
The Batanes Tourism Office recorded over 11,000 tourist arrivals for 2024.
"Cebu Pacific and Skyjet cancelled their operations here because of the frequent cancellation of flights due to our unpredictable weather. We only have three months of fair weather here, so we understand their concerns," Gato said.
"With the statement from the Ambassador from Malaysia, Air Asia is giving us hope that another air transportation player can come in that would address the prohibitive cost of transportation going here. If there’s competition, the next thing to follow is the lowering of airfare,” he added.
Batanes, which consists of six municipalities—Basco, Mahatao, Ivana, Uyugan, Sabtang, and Itbayat—is home to over 18,000 Ivatan residents. It is also the only Philippine destination designated by the United Nations as a Sustainable Tourism Observatory.