MCIAA to develop Bantayan airport

CEBU, Philippines — To develop the airport in Bantayan Island, the Cebu provincial government signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) yesterday.

The aerial gateway is located in Santa Fe town in the north. As stated in Resolution No. 2575 - 2018, MCIAA will develop the airstrip into a “commercial airport.”

“I am sure nga dili lang ang mga taga-Santa Fe ang malipay hasta pud ang entiro Bantayan Island,” Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III said in his speech.

Davide also expressed that he is hopeful for the airport to become a magnet for more tourists to come and visit the island.

Moreover, he sees the necessity to develop the airport as it is a gateway for relief and help in times of disasters like Typhoon Yolanda.

As stated in the MOA attached to the resolution passed by the Provincial Board (PB) earlier this month, the agreement will be in effect for 25 years.

In January 2003, the MCIAA, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), and the Province of Cebu (POC) entered into a tripartite agreement to develop the town airport. It expired in January 2013.

The agreement then was renewable for ten more years. However, it was not renewed and took several years before the agreement was revisited.

In effect, CAAP turned over to MCIAA the management and operation of Bantayan airport effective in January 2018. Moreover, all development including the buildings and other structures as well as the parcels of land on which these were built are deemed transferred to MCIAA.

“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,” stated in the MOA.

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 states for the management to prioritize hiring citizens of Santa Fe, Bantayan, and Madridejos towns.

Meanwhile, the POC 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.

Once the 2018 MOA expires, it can be renewed for another 25 years.

Air Juan operates chartered flights to Bantayan airport at present. When the improvements are in place, more carriers are expected to come in and offer direct flights to Bantayan Island. — MBG (FREEMAN)