CEBU, Philippines - Some Cebu legislators are now pushing to have a second airport either in the north or in the south of the province rather than closing the Mactan Cebu International Airport and have it transferred to Cordova town.
The Provincial Board (PB) passed a resolution requesting the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) to conduct a feasibility study to construct a second airport in either in the City of Bogo or in the Municipality of Medellin where they held their out-of-town session last Monday.
Jose Ma. Lorenzo Tan, the president and chief executive officer of the Philippine Chapter of World Wildlife Fund (WWF), earlier made the recommendation to have the second airport in the area because of the large tracts of wide plains.
Tan reportedly opposed the plan to transfer the MCIA to Cordova saying it would be very expensive and would involve the reclamation of foreshore lands in the town.
Board Members Joven Mondigo, Jr.; Sun Shimura and Jose Ribomapil Holganza, Jr., who are all from the fourth district of Cebu Province, supported the recommendation of Tan by sponsoring the resolution.
There is already an existing airport in Santa Fe in Bantayan Island. The Province of Cebu is now undertaking its improvement while there is also an existing airport lot in Medellin, all in the north.
In the weekly 888 News Forum at Marco Polo Plaza yesterday, Cebu First District Rep. Eduardo Gullas said that it would also be more feasible perhaps to have an airport somewhere in the south.
“Anything that improves the infrastructure in the south gets my support and complete commitment,” Gullas said.
He, however, has no objection if another airport will be placed in the north.
“As far as need is concerned, I think the need is greater to have an airport in the south,” Gullas said.
Gullas is opposed to have the MCIA closed and building a new one in a reclaimed area in Cordova, saying that it is expensive.
“I have not heard of a city in the world that closes an airport just because it wants to build a new one, we will be the first perhaps,” he said.
Rep. Pablo John Garcia (2nd district, Cebu) who was with Gullas in the same forum yesterday also pointed out that the existing airport cannot be sold as it is part of public domain and serves vital government functions.
“While we appreciate that people are thinking about the future of the airport, let’s be realistic and let’s do everything legally,” Garcia said.
One of the justifications why MCIA has to be sold is that legal claims of the real properties. “A land with legal claims is better than land that is not yet there,” Garcia said.
Garcia also warned that to have the reclamation area in Cordova is not a guarantee of not having a legal claim since there was already a case before involving the Malayan Integrated Industries Corporation against the Province of Cebu on reclamation issue.
“Let’s not use legal claims just to justify a juicy real estate deal,” Garcia added. – (FREEMAN)