DOT, tourism sector push MCIA project

MANILA, Philippines - All of Cebu stands to lose in terms of investment, as well as tourism-generated revenue if personal interest some politicians continue to hinder the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) expansion and modernization project.

That is why the tourism sector is banking on President Aquino’s administration to fulfill its commitment to the MCIA project by finally awarding the contract to the Filipino-led GM Megawide consortium, the developer that won the government bidding.

It is spoiling the fun for visitors and Cebuano travellers, should there be further delay in the MCIA development project, Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Ramon Jimenez, Jr. said. 

Jimenez said the DOT fully support the immediate renovation and expansion of the country’s second largest airport to boost the tourism industry in Cebu, the gateway to the Visayas and Mindanao.

 â€œCebu will get its new airport and we are one with the stakeholders in pushing for the completion of the project the soonest possible time,” Jimenez stressed.

Jimenez made the assertion while attending the 5th World Ecotourism Conference at the Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu which gathered over 400 international and local delegates.

Jimenez said he believes that the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) is determined to pursue the project despite the delay in the implementation due grumblings by some politicians, who questioned the result of the DOTC bidding.

Following a qualifying technical review and transparent bidding process, the Megawide-GMR Consortium emerged the winner, beating Filinvest-Changi Consortium.

Megawide-GMR Consortium is willing to pay the government P14.4 billion upfront for the 25-year rights in addition to investing P17.5 billion to expand and modernize the MCIA. 

The Megawide-GMR consortium development plan will boost President Aquino’s Public-Private Partnership program.

 â€œAny delay is unfortunate as this will prolong the hassle for tourists but we are positive that once the project will push through, this will drive more tourism activities for the rest of Cebu and the Visayas,” Jimenez pointed out.

Tourism stakeholders, led by the Network of Independent Travel Agencies (NITAs), also expressed their support to Megawide-GMR consortium plan. 

NITAs president Bobby Lim-Joseph said the other tourism groups supporting Megawide grou are SKAL International, National Association of Independent Travel Agencies (NAITAs), Team Philippines, Cebu Tourism and Travel Association, Philippine Travel Agencies, Philippine Tour Operators Association (PHILTOA).

On the other hand, Megawide chief marketing officer and spokesman Louie Ferrer revealed that they “we’re positioning Mactan as the world’s first resort airport.