THE haze from Indonesia’s forest fires has spread to the Philippines, causing domestic flight cancellations and delays in Bohol and Dumaguete in the Visayas, and Davao, Cotabato and General Santos in Mindanao.
Last week, Bohol’s Tagbilaran Airport was shut for a couple of days as the thick haze caused poor visibility. The airport has no instrument landing system, unlike other domestic airports.
Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific have curtailed flights to Cotabato City since October 17, and have not resumed them at press time.
Joy Caneba, CEO of AirAsia Philippines, said the haze may have disrupted airport operations, but is “more of a health hazard than affecting tourism”.
Hotels in Cagayan de Oro, Mindanao are not affected yet, according to Jerome de la Fuente, general manager of Hotel Limketkai. “It’s business as usual,” he said.
The haze has also reached Clark, Manila and Palawan in Luzon although it is less dense as those reported in the Visayas and Mindanao.
