Manila, July 14 -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday led the groundbreaking and time capsule laying for the construction of the new Caticlan Passenger Terminal Building (PTB) at the Caticlan Airport in Aklan, hailing it as a major step in improving regional connectivity, tourism, and economic growth.

"We are slowly putting together the building blocks of our policy of opening up our areas, tourist areas, our business areas, to international travelers without having to go through the Manila airport," Marcos said during the ceremony held at Caticlan Airport.

Located in the municipality of Malay in northern Aklan, Caticlan Airport serves as the most direct and practical access point to Boracay Island.

Just a short ferry ride awa...