Expect tourism, economic devt in CV with DOTr’s projects in the aviation sector here

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

LAPULAPU CITY – With the series of transport initiatives in the aviation sector in Cebu, expect tourism and economic development in the province and the rest of Central Visayas as transportation secretary Arthur Tugade inaugurated the new corporate building at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) on October 28 with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).

  
“What we are doing now in Cebu is creating a platform for a tourism booster.  We are creating a platform to boost Cebu Province’s tourism and economic development,” Tugade explained that the improvement works at the MCIA, and the improvement and construction of three other airports in the province will propel Cebu Province as a good place for business.

“As we improve the existing airport and the terminal, as we add a second runway for the MCIA, we are telling the whole world: “Come to Cebu. It is a place for business.’” Tugade said during the inauguration of the MCIAA Corporate Building.

The Corporate Building was completed on March 21, 2021 and will house MCIAA employees in centralized offices with advanced equipment and facilities. The six-storey facility aims to improve services and accessibility to airport stakeholders.

Tugade and his team also inspected the airport’s secondary runway, which is expected to be completed in May 2022.  He revealed that partial operations of the second runway may begin before the end of April 2022 to enable MCIA accommodate more aircrafts.

Tugade said that the MCIAA targets to increase its passenger cap from 1,000 to 2,000 passengers to accommodate travelers, returning Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), and Filipino seafarers, in anticipation of the influx of passengers during the Christmas season.

In the same event, the CAAP provided the group with updates for other airport projects, including the progress and development of the Bantayan Airport in Bantayan Island and the construction of Medellin Airport in Medellin town and Camotes Airport San Fransisco town.

In awe of Cebu’s tourist gems, Tugade bared that the DOTr has been pushing for the completion of the Bantayan Airport, adding that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s office committed P150 million to fast track the completion of the gateway, which he said will be operational in April 2022.

He also vowed to oversee the start of construction and completion of the Camotes and the Medellin airports.  “Tututukan ko ang pag-umpisa ng airport sa Camotes Island at Medellin. Tatapusin ko ‘yan. Makikipagtulungan ako upang mabigyang buhay ang pag-uumpisa at pagtatapos ng mga airport na ito,” Tugade said.

MCIAA General Manager Julius Neri, Jr., explained that aside from the MCIA, “will have two airports that will be serving the tourism industry, while the Medellin Airport will have a different purpose—it will be developed into an export processing zone.”

The development projects at the MCIA and construction of airports in Cebu strengthen DOTr’s continuous pursuit of providing world-class and reliable service to air passengers and help achieve economic growth and development in Cebu and the whole Central Visayas region. (Photos: DOTr)