Second runway plan OK’d on 1st reading

CEBU, Philippines - The proposal to establish and construct a second runway at Mactan-Cebu International Airport takes another stage as it got the committee approval in the House of Representatives.

After the first reading, the House Committee on Transportation and the Committee on Appropriations have recommended the approval of House Bill No. 1080 sponsored by Cebu City north district Representative Raul del Mar.

House Bill No. 1080 provides for the establishment and construction of a second runway at MCIA with its concomitant access taxiways and rapid exit taxiways, runway lighting systems, and navigational/landing equipment, and appropriating funds therefore.

On August 26, the bill was referred to House Committee on Rules for inclusion in the plenary discussion leading for its approval on second reading.

“The approval of the Committee on Transportation on records is sufficient basis for us to forward the same to DOTC with request for their conducting a feasibility study as Phase 2 of the ongoing terminal construction,” del Mar said.

The bill provides that the DOTC, in coordination with the MCIA Authority, shall finance and conduct the studies and the formulation of the detailed engineering designs, standards and specifications of the proposed runway and other equipment and appurtenances needed.

Once approved, the DOTC secretary shall include in the department’s program the funding requirements for the procurement and construction of the said runway facilities and other airfield facilities in an amount deemed appropriate for its operational and maintenance.

 In filing HB No. 1080 on July 3, 2013, del Mar said MCIA has gone a long way since the time the MCIAA was created in 1990 up to the present.

 In 1991, the airport handled a total of 1,459,669 passenger movements and 23,281 aircraft movements.

In 2012, the passenger movements reached 6,771,318 and aircraft movements, 58,888.

According to the Department of Tourism, Cebu logged 2.2 million in guest arrivals in 2012.

“The sharp increases of both passenger movements and aircraft movements have resulted in heavier utilization of the airport’s single runway, making it the second busiest in the country,” del Mar said. — (FREEMAN)