Events and Anniversaries: "Life is a Circus, a series of events and happenings going round and round."

It was a long time ago when the world became so apprehensive about Y2K and how the world will come into a stand still. And now it is 2010, 10 years after. Life at the airport continues and the December-January air has led to many events – meetings, budget conferences, parties, New Year calls and the Sinulog. I have seen many Christmases leading into Sinulog homecomings. With all these, can Valentines and the Chinese New Year be far behind?

It is also the season of 70 international flights and 380 domestic flights weekly and the most number of cargoes and charter flights. It is the time of reunions and farewells, happy times and sad goodbyes. But this time politicians, public officials and accompanying movie stars and singers join the band wagon.

The Traditional New Year Call of MCIAA at the MIP Lounge was held on Wednesday, January 6. There we gave thanks for the year that was and looked forward to the improvements of the coming year. It was again the time to meet the managers and their spouses.

2010 is an election year. While many always look with negativism at this period of our country, we consider it as another opportunity to improve and again look forward to having another president and his team to add on to the legacy left behind by the leaders of the past.

For the airport, we have just awarded the contract for the expansion of our terminal to the winning bidder. The project will take 18 months to complete. There will be two more and better boarding bridges, two more waiting lounges with shops and amenities. The entire terminal will have a new interior and LCD monitors and Flight Information Display Systems. We have also completed the first international bidding of a new Instrument Landing System (ILS) for the Runway Complex. This project will take 12 months to complete.

The new fire station will be completed by March and we will purchase another 6X6 Aerodrome Fire Truck. The fire station at the General Aviation Complex will also be upgraded and another fire truck will be procured. A third fire station is planned for the terminal and cargo area. Sea rescue capability is also in the works.

We have also started plans for New Generation Terminal and a Cargo Terminal. A maintenance, repair and overhaul company is also setting its sights for expansion at our airport. The General Aviation Complex is being expanded to Forward Base Operations level.

The dream continues….