MCIA acquires new rescue vehicle

CEBU, Philippines — U.S. Ambassador MaryKay Carlson lauded Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) on its latest acquisition of a new Oshkosh Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) vehicle.

“This significant investment underscores your unwavering commitment to aviation safety and operational excellence,” said Carlson during the handover ceremony held on April 29, 2025, at the Asian Aerospace Cebu Hangar 2 of MCIAA.

Carlson said the addition of the state-of-the-art ARFF vehicle enhances MCIAA’s emergency response capabilities and further solidifies its role as a leading international gateway to the Philippines.

“We commend your dedication to adopting advanced technologies that ensure the safety of all passengers and stakeholders,” she added.

Currently, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) operates 41 Oshkosh ARFF vehicles and has recently acquired seven more.

Carlson noted that the U.S. Trade and Development Agency has offered to support this investment in U.S.-made equipment by funding training programs for the operators of these vehicles.

She also highlighted that Chicago-based United Airlines now operates a daily non-stop flight between Tokyo Narita and Mactan-Cebu International Airport.

Those flights, she said, began in October last year and are helping to bring the Philippines and the United States closer together, while driving economic growth between the two nations.

She emphasized that the leisure and business travelers aboard the Boeing aircraft each day are contributing to tourism spending and business investments in Cebu—“yet another great example of the strong partnership between the United States and the Visayas region.”

“We look forward to identifying ways to continue to provide this type of support to the Philippines to expand and improve the capabilities of the country’s aviation sector. This is a great win-win for our two countries and a model for our continued collaboration,” the U.S. ambassador concluded.

The ceremonial handover also highlights the United States’ ongoing support for enhancing aviation safety and emergency preparedness in the Philippines.

The high-performance vehicle, manufactured by U.S.-based Oshkosh Corporation, will significantly bolster MCIAA’s ability to respond to aviation emergencies.

The handover also underscores the strength of U.S.-Philippines commercial and security cooperation and reflects ongoing efforts to promote the adoption of advanced U.S. technologies in critical infrastructure sectors.

The event was attended by MCIAA General Manager Julius Neri, MCIAA Assistant General Manager Atty. Glenn Napuli, Asian Aerospace Corporation Chief Executive Officer Peter Rodriguez, and several aerospace students. — (FREEMAN)