Paz longs for senate’s action on bill

CEBU, Philippines - Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza hopes the Senate will prioritize the approval of a bill which seeks to allow a representative of the city to sit in the Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority Board.

Mayor Radaza said senators told her last week that the senate would be busy around this time discussing the proposed annual budget but Senator Ralph Recto had assured her that they will include the proposed bill in the discussion this month.

“Hinaut unta nga mahatagan pagtagad sa atong mga senador ug mapalabang ang maong balaudnon,” Radaza said.

The city mayor said since the Mactan Airport is in Lapu-Lapu City, it is only fitting that the city is represented at the board.

The reason why Lapu-Lapu City was not included in the MCIAA board can be traced back to the incumbency of then governor Lito Osmeña and the late mayor Maximo Patalinghug when the board was created and the city was excluded from the MCIAA.

Since Lapu-Lapu City was just a component city of the province then, it was decided that the governor should choose who from the private sector should sit in the MCIAA board because Cebu Province hosts the airport.

For more than a decade, Lapu-Lapu and the MCIAA board disagree on the city’s taxing power over the airport.

The city government has demanded payment from MCIAA for its unpaid real property taxes amounting to P1.5 billion.

MCIAA officials said they are willing to pay the city government, but has asked exemptions on some portions of the airport.

Former mayor and now Congressman Arturo “Boy” Radaza introduced bill allowing Lapu-Lapu City government to have seat at the MCIAA board.

Former congressman Raul del Mar authored the MCIAA Charter or Republic Act 6958 in the 9th Congress.  Radaza wants amendments introduced to Republic Act 6958. (FREEMAN)