Mactan-Cebu International Airport: GMCAC signals beginning of terminal’s construction

CEBU, Philippines - The GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation yesterday held a ceremonial concrete pouring on a vacant lot of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport to signify the start of the construction of the facility’s new terminal.

GMCAC chief advisor Andrew Harrison said that once finished, the MCIA Terminal 2 would create employment opportunities to Cebuanos.

“This project is creating opportunities for businesses, whether it’s concessions in the airport, whether it’s food and beverage or retail, and creating employment opportunities. The construction of Terminal 2 is going to create 3,000 jobs, during the period of two years,” Harrison said.

Harrison, along with GMCAC president Louie Ferrer, MCIAA General Manager Nigel Paul Villarete, Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza, and Department of Transportation and Communications Secretary Jose Emilio Abaya each shoved a cement mixture to the dug up ground.

“Obligations of the government (for this project) finally ends and we now turn over fully what is required for the full development of MCIA, and these have been looked forward to by the concessionaires. Matagal nilang hinihintay ‘to para simulan kaagad ang Terminal 2,” Abaya said.

He said the construction of the new terminal, that will have a 12.5-million passenger capacity, is set to finish by February 2018.

“Medyo matagal pa but they said they’ll do their best efforts…(to finish) first quarter or early fourth quarter of 2017,” Abaya said.

The existing airport has a passenger capacity of  only 4.5 million.

Last April 2014, DOTC awarded the MCIA expansion plan to the GMR-Megawide consortium, which emerged as the highest bidder after submitting a P14.4-billion bid for the project.

GMCAC took over airport operations on November 2014.

Last year, a Canadian-led travel site picked MCIA, which is the second busiest airport of the country, as Asia’s 18th best airport. — (FREEMAN)