Most lot owners unsure of selling

CEBU, Philippines - Majority of the lot owners affected by the development of existing Sta. Fe airport in Bantayan Island are still undecided on how they will be compensated.

There are 66 lot owners who met with Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia during her visit last November in Bantayan Island where they discussed issues on the development of Sta. Fe airport.

Garcia offered to buy the affected lot from private owners if they are willing to sell, and offers a lot swap for those who prefer this, otherwise, the Provincial Government may exercise its right to expropriate the lots if needed to proceed with the airport rehabilitation.

For over a month after the said meeting, out of the 66 lot owners, seven expressed their willingness to sell their lots while five others opt for a lot swap.

Garcia explained that she wanted to develop the airport to help Bantayan Island with the increasing volume of tourists.

Garcia reiterated the need to pursue the development of the 315,916.78-square-meter existing airport in Sta. Fe which was established during the time of former governor Emilio “Lito” Osmeña.

The rehabilitation project will include the extension of the runway from 900 meters to 1,200 meters, the construction of a hangar and a more spacious passenger terminal.

During the meeting, lot owners expressed willingness to sell their properties to help in the progress of the proposed development.

Cebu Provincial Real Estate Administration chief Paulino Entera said they appraised the market value of the lots at P160 to P200 per square meter, depending on the land classification.

The owners were given a month to prepare the necessary documents and to submit these to their municipal assessor.

The Provincial Board already authorized Garcia to buy the said lots.

Garcia is set to meet with the lot owners again on February 3. She hopes that if everything goes well as planned, the repair of the airstrip will start in the first trimester of 2012.

A 12-seater commercial airline, the Mid-Sea Express, used to have daily flights there but it stopped operating because the land where the runway was located was found to be unsuitable.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines has recommended the transfer of the runway. (FREEMAN)