PB gives go signal for Santa Fe airport

CEBU, Philippines — The Provincial Board has given Governor Hilario Davide III the authority to sign a Memorandum of Agreement with the Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) to develop the airport in Santa Fe, Bantayan Island.

The Board finds the MOA “sufficient in form and substance.” Once signed, the MOA will take effect for 25 years.

As stated in Resolution 2575-2018, MCIAA is to develop the airstrip into a “commercial airport.”

In January 2003, MCIAA, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), and Province of Cebu entered into a tripartite agreement to develop the airport.

The agreement expired in January 2013 but was renewable for 10 more years.

CAAP then turned over to MCIAA the management and operation of the airport effective January 2018, including the development of buildings, other structures, and parcels of land there.

It took several years before the agreement was revisited.

“Given the positive catalytic impacts an airport brings such as boost in tourism, increase of investments and trade, generation of employment, and upliftment of economic and social conditions of the community, the POC committed to develop the airport into a commercial airport,” the MOA reads.

Pursuant to Republic Act 6958, the charter of MCIAA, the administration, control, supervision, and management of the Mactan Cebu International Airport and other airports, which will be established in Cebu Province, belongs to MCIAA.

Once the new MOA takes effect, MCIAA will be tasked to carry out the initial upgrading of the airport facilities to meet the minimum CAAP standard requirements of a community airport.

This will include the repair and/or construction of runway, perimeter fence, and terminal building.

Once established, the agreement reiterates for the management to prioritize hiring citizens of Santa Fe, Bantayan, and Madridejos towns.

Meanwhile, the province is tasked with the preparation of architectural and other development plans for the airport in consultation with CAAP and MCIAA.

The province will also help in the construction of a terminal and completely turn it over to MCIAA.

The MOA will take effect once it is signed by Davide and MCIAA General Manager Steve Dicdican. Once it expires, it can be renewed for another 25 years. (FREEMAN)