Bantayan airport’s runway to be stretched to 1.5km

CEBU, Philippines —  The Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) is planning to extend the runway of the Bantayan Island Airport in the municipality of Santa Fe from 1.2 kilometer to 1.5 kilometer.

This is to further improve and develop the airport to accommodate more planes and become a highly commercialized facility.

MCIAA General Manager Julius Neri, who was with GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation Chief Executive Advisor Andrew Harrison, during their July 11 visit at the Capitol, told Governor Gwendolyn Garcia that though the current runway can accommodate smaller planes, they see the need to extend and improve it to accommodate bigger and established planes.

Currently, the facility can only accommodate turbo-prop aircrafts like the Fokker 50.

The MCIAA also plans to open regular flights to and from the Bantayan island, one of the leading tourism destinations in Cebu Province. Part of the improvements that the MCIAA is eyeing to do with the local airport is putting up a fire station and fire trucks for safety purposes.

Governor Garcia welcomed the plan and expressed willingness to help MCIAA in improving Bantayan Island airport by acquiring more properties near the area.

The facility is nestled in a 25-hectare, province-owned lot in the town of Santa Fe, Bantayan island in Northern Cebu.

The MCIAA is the one that manages the airside while the GMCAC works for the terminal operations.

According to the Capitol's Information Office, a tripartite agreement is set to be signed next month to establish the roles of the parties involved.

The airport started operating last April. — GAN (FREEMAN)