Repair of Cebu airport’s runway urged

Cebu Airport general manager Angelo Verdan yesterday bewailed the continued delay in runway resurfacing, which he said is now posing profound threats to airport safety.

Verdan said the runway has needed resurfacing since 2000 but legal action initiated by aggrieved parties in the bidding process continues to delay the project.

Verdan added that there have at least been three initiatives by administrations before him to resurface the runway since 2000 but these were stalled by a court order.

Thus, he said in lieu of full resurfacing they have been vacuuming the runway’s surface at least every three hours to clear it of foreign objects.

One alternative, he said, is to close the runway but this could have a devastating effect on Cebu’s economy.

The runway handles an average of 124 daily aircraft operations both for landings and take-offs, 63 percent of which are for commercial flights while 37 percent are military aircraft and general aviation operation. — Freeman News Service