New terminal to position MCIA at par with other Asian airports

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu business leaders foresee Mactan-Cebu International Airport going at par with modern Asian airports, such as those of Singapore and Hong Kong, with its world-class Terminal 2 ready for operations by July 1.

Cebu Business Club president Gordon Alan Joseph believes Cebu’s modernized airport will bring a trickle-down effect to its overall economy.

"It looks like we will finally have a world class airport in Cebu and without a doubt, this will bring in more flights, which will be good for tourism and overall business," Joseph told The FREEMAN yesterday. "The trickle down effect should be amazing."

"Megawide and GMR are doing a great job improving the existing terminals efficiency and I am personally excited to see the new T2," he added.

GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corp, the consortium between Philippine firm Megawide Construction and India-based GMR Infrastructure Ltd, won in 2014 the 25-year public private partnership (PPP) contract to build, operate and maintain the new MCIA terminal for some P17.52 billion.

Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry vice president Steven Yu also said the T2 will eventually improve Cebu’s ranking when it comes to efficient airports in Asia.

"The new T2 with its new innovations and improved technological advancements will be one of the most efficient airports in the world. It will leapfrog our rankings to possibly top 5 in Asia, nearer to Singapore’s Changi Airport," Yu said.

"The opening of MCIA's T2 will further build up Cebu's attractiveness to foreign and domestic tourists, and will lead to a surge in tourism receipts. With the advent of the internet, it will not take long and news will spread quickly. Tourism activities will get a sudden boost and Cebu's economic growth will shoot up," the MCCI official pointed out in a phone interview Sunday.

"With our hospitable Filipino culture, we can create a new level of customer experience that can even surpass the best of the bests. We are very excited with the opening of T2, and with what it will contribute to the economic progress of Cebu," the businessman said.

The P17.5-billion MCIA T2, touted as the world's first resort airport, is set to be inauguration on June 7 with President Duterte as one of the guests.

The 65,500-square meter terminal is designed by Hong Kong-based Integrated Design Associates (IDA) together with local designers Budji Layug, Royal Pinda and Cebuano Kenneth Cobonpue.

The new terminal building will have a capacity of about 13 million passengers annually and will serve international operations.

Last June 2017, the consortium submitted a P208-billion unsolicited proposal for MCIA's 50-year development.

"I see the need for expansion almost immediately, in particular, it looks like a new runway is needed quite urgently." Joseph said.

"We may have great terminals but our runway has a finite capacity which in fact may have already been reached. Without a new runway the full economic benefits if T1 and T2 may never be reached," he further added.

Yu also noted: "We also see the need for it to expand its capacity as arrivals increase over time."

To date, MCIA is serving 32 domestic and 22 international destinations, with eight local and 17 international airline partners.

Cebu's airport expansion is seen to lure more airlines to mount flights from the country’s second busiest airport.

Cebu is continuously promoted as an alternative international gateway to the Philippines, given its strategic geographical location and proximity to tourist destinations in southern Philippines. (FREEMAN)