Efforts underway to hasten MCIA terminal construction

CEBU, Philippines - The GMR-Megawide Mactan Cebu Airport Corporation is still working on minimizing the delays in the construction of the airport’s second terminal.

GMCAC chief executive advisor Andrew Acquaah-Harrison yesterday said that with the awarding of the contract for the transfer of some Philippine Air Force’s facilities to another location, he is now “seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.”  

The lot, which is currently being occupied by PAF’s 17 different structures, was supposed to be turned over to GMCAC in December 2014 but the move did not push through.

The 17 structures will be transferred to pave the way for the airport’s expansion. Among the structures, the MIP lounge, will likewise be replicated to the amount of P800 million.

Harrison said that with the increasing number of passengers at MCIA, the expansion is quite necessary.

“Cebu needs this capacity. The sooner we build the airport, the better for Cebu and surrounding areas in the Visayas,” he said.

GMCAC is a consortium between the Philippines’ Megawide Corporation and India’s GMR Group.

The consortium won the bidding to develop and manage MCIA for 25 years under a competitively tendered Concession Agreement, through the government’s Private Partnership Program. 

The operating company for the airport’s concession is a joint venture between Megawide (60 percent) and GMR (40 percent).

Yesterday, Harrison led the media to a tour at the airport to show the latest improvement of its facilities and services.

GMR Group also operated the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, India which is ranked as the world’s number one airport in the 25-40 million passengers per annum category.

Harrison called Delhi airport’s achievement a matter of great pride for the GMR family.

He said this would serve as an inspiration in the drive to transform the passenger experience at MCIA into one that will soon garner the number one slot in its own size category.

In another statement, GMCAC, together with Philippine Airlines and Smart Communications, announced the winners of its joint “Sinulog sa Airport” raffle promotion, which runs from January 12 to February 12 this year.

The promotion, which aims to reward tourists and balikbayans, entitles every passenger to a valid boarding pass to get the chance to win a grand vacation to some of Cebu and Manila’s top hotels and resorts, with round trip tickets provided by the national flag carrier.

The winners for the first and second week are Viven Joseph Buendia, Marvin Surban, Saada Maniri, Florian Baltazar Jr., Elma Olita, Aaron Bernabe, Melijandyl Delatina, Jan Vincent Lawas and Fara Lynn Canete. — (FREEMAN)