Bislig's city council has formally asked the Surigao del Sur provincial government to help sustain Philippine Airlines (PAL) operations at the Bislig City Airport. The request is contained in Sangguniang Panlungsod Resolution No. 2026-796, adopted on October 6, 2026, and published on the city government's website.

What the October 6 resolution asks for

The resolution, authored by Councilor Paul E. Vicencio, "earnestly" requests Governor Johnny T. Pimentel to extend "financial, logistical, personnel, and other necessary support to sustain the operations of Philippine Airlines (PAL) at the Bislig City Airport."

Its reasoning, in summary:

  • The airport provides air connectivity for Bislig and for neighboring towns and communities in Surigao del Sur.
  • Regular commercial service, "particularly by Philippine Airlines," gives residents, businesses, government workers, tourists and investors a reliable way to travel.
  • PAL's presence at the airport supports tourism, trade, commerce and investment in both the city and the province.
  • Keeping the flights going needs "adequate institutional support and coordination" among national agencies, the provincial government, the city government and other stakeholders.

The resolution adds that any provincial support would be subject to existing laws, budgeting rules and accounting procedures. Councilor Pedrito R. Sulapas presided over the session as acting vice mayor, with Vice Mayor Conrad C. Cejoco away on official business.

The money question in August

Two months earlier, on August 4, 2026, the council adopted Resolution No. 2026-642, authored by Vice Mayor Cejoco and Councilor Victor B. Alvar Jr. It asks Mayor Florencio C. Garay, through the Local Finance Committee, to update the council on "the budget allocation for the resumption of commercial airline flight in the City of Bislig."

That resolution notes that the city has been pursuing efforts to restore commercial flights, "including benchmarking flight operational models and engaging with prospective commercial airlines." It also points out that keeping flights running often requires the local government to provide "fiscal commitments, operational counterparts, infrastructural support, or logistical subsidies," which it says must be "transparently programmed" in the city's regular or supplemental budgets. The council asked for details on the specific allocation, funding sources and financial commitments set aside for the flights.

Neither resolution states a peso amount, and Bislig Today has not seen the Local Finance Committee's reply.

How Bislig got here

As Bislig Today reported earlier this month, Bislig Airport (BPH) is a community airport run by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines with a single runway of about 1,200 meters. PAL served Bislig as early as 1981. Leading Edge Air Services flew Bislig to Cebu from October 2019 to January 2020 and again from September 2024.

In October 2024, two city officials visited Borongan City in Eastern Samar to study how that city supports its PAL flights, including a city-built terminal and a local ticketing office, according to the Philippine News Agency. The city's 2026 concept note for a proposed economic zone also says the administration had begun talking with PAL about reviving flights.

The October 6 resolution is the first city document Bislig Today has seen that refers to PAL "operations" at the airport. Bislig Today could not find a published PAL schedule for Bislig as of October 27, 2026. Travelers should confirm routes and dates directly with the airline before booking.

What happens next

A council resolution is a request, not an order. Whether the province provides money, staff or other help is up to the provincial government and its own budget process. Copies of Resolution No. 2026-796 were sent to the concerned offices for "information/action."

Sources: City of Bislig, Sangguniang Panlungsod Resolution Nos. 2026-642 (August 4, 2026) and 2026-796 (October 6, 2026), published at bislig.gov.ph; Philippine News Agency (October 2024); Bislig Today, "Alam Mo Ba? Bislig Has Had Commercial Flights Three Separate Times" (October 15, 2026).