MANILA, Philippines - Air talks between Oman and the Philippines have yielded new entitlements for 17 direct flights between them.

Civil Aeronautics Board Deputy Executive Director Carmelo L. Arcilla told reporters that the new entitlements add to the unused one flight each to and from Manila and Cebu.

"We now have four new flights going to Manila, seven to the Diosdado Macapagal Airport in Clark, four to Cebu and four to Davao every week," Mr. Arcilla said, noting there are now about 50,000 Filipino workers in Oman. "The agreement was signed just this Monday."