Camotes airport to open for pilot training first

CEBU, Philippines — Instead of welcoming commercial flights, the Camotes Airport will first open its runway for aviation training as the Cebu Provincial Government works to resolve the remaining land acquisition issues tied to the project.

Provincial Administrator Ace Durano said the airport is initially being prepared for aviation training, particularly for "touch-and-go" exercises.

"It's not commercial operations yet kay one, there's no terminal yet," said Durano.

He said the initiative is part of the long-term plan of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) to decongest the Mactan airport, where the growing number of commercial flights has significantly reduced the time available for flight training.

"Actually that's really a project of MCIAA. Ang atong existing airport karon sa Mactan, tungod sa number of commercial flights, ang window for the training schools nagkagamay," he said.

Durano explained that aviation schools currently use the same runway as commercial aircraft at the Mactan airport, making training operations increasingly difficult as air traffic continues to rise.

He noted that the flight schools contribute to Cebu's tourism industry by attracting foreign students who enroll in aviation training programs.

"Because they're using the same runway ang kaning training schools... But they are very important to our tourism kay many foreign students come here to study flying school," Durano explained.

To address the congestion, MCIAA plans to gradually transfer some training activities outside Mactan, with Camotes identified as the nearest suitable location for touch-and-go operations.

These exercises involve an aircraft briefly landing on the runway before immediately taking off again—a maneuver that has become increasingly difficult at the busy Mactan airport.

"Naa silay gitawag nga touch-and-go training operation, kanang molanding lang ang eroplano unya mobalik. Dili na na nila mahimo sa Mactan Airport tungod sa kadaghan na sa commercial flights," Durano explained.

He said the infrastructure needed for flight training is already in place and that MCIAA is scheduled to inaugurate the touch-and-go operations on July 7.

Despite the launch of training operations, Durano emphasized that the airport is still not ready to accommodate commercial flights because key facilities, including the passenger terminal, have yet to be completed.

Meanwhile, the provincial government is set to conduct public hearings this month to address the remaining land acquisition issues involving affected property owners.

The hearings, to be facilitated by Provincial Assessor Michelle Languido, aim to provide a venue for all remaining lot claimants and help settle the pending compensation concerns.

"For Camotes, wala pamay commercial flight but e sunod pud ang public hearing para once and for all naay venue ang katong mga lot claimants," Durano said.

Located in San Francisco town in Camotes Island, the Camotes Airport is envisioned as a major gateway that will boost tourism and economic activity across the island municipalities.

The project broke ground on December 10, 2024, during the administration of former governor Gwendolyn Garcia, with an initial allocation of P120 million secured through Deputy Speaker and Fifth District Rep. Duke Frasco.

The Department of Public Works and Highways is constructing the passenger terminal, while the Department of Transportation is overseeing the runway project, which received an initial funding of P265 million.

Earlier, Assistant Provincial Administrator Aldwin Empaces confirmed that although negotiations with landowners began under the previous administration, three private lot owners have yet to receive full compensation for portions of land acquired for the airport project.- FPL (CEBU NEWS)