Gullas scion takes helm of MCIAA

CEBU, Philippines — Wider flight connections, more efficient runway operations and stronger preparedness for disruptions are among the priorities of 37-year-old lawyer Jarred Gullas as he takes the helm of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA).

Gullas recently left his post as director of the Office of Regional Concerns at the Office of the President (OP) to assume as general manager of the airport authority.

He took his oath before Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon in Manila with Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas (OPAV) Secretary Philip Lo witnessing the ceremony yesterday.

Accompanied by his partner, Dr. Daryl Bess Pasco, and their son, Gullas said his appointment brings both excitement and a strong sense of responsibility as he returns to Cebu to lead a sector he has long been interested in.

He had served as director of the OP's Office of Regional Concerns since August 2022, a position he described as an opportunity of a lifetime because of the doors it opened for him.

However, personal circumstances eventually prompted him to return to Cebu, particularly to be closer to his family.

“I'm quite sad to be leaving my current position. It's really been the opportunity of a lifetime to work in the Office of the President. But I'm also excited and very much looking forward to this new chapter in my life, closer to home,” he said.

Gullas said Mactan Cebu International Airport has always held a special place in his life, having been a regular passenger since childhood. His connection to the airport became even more meaningful after his son was born two years ago, as he frequently traveled between Manila and Cebu.

He recalled how efficient airport operations allowed him to get home in time to see his son before bedtime, even when taking late flights from Manila.

“I've been using the MCIA since bata pa ko,” Gullas said, adding that his frequent travels have given him a passenger's perspective on the airport's services.

That familiarity has strengthened his interest in the aviation sector, although he acknowledged that managing the facility would be vastly different from experiencing it as a passenger.

Sustaining gains, bracing for challenges

Rather than immediately introducing sweeping changes, Gullas said he intends to build on the improvements made by the previous airport management, particularly in operational efficiency, passenger traffic and revenues following the pandemic.

“As a general policy, I don't intend to come in as a disruptor,” he said.

However, he acknowledged that external developments could threaten the airport's recovery and growth, particularly geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and the approaching El Niño phenomenon.

He cited the conflict involving Iran and its potential effects on travel demand, fuel prices and airline operations as challenges that MCIAA must prepare for.

The immediate priority, he said, is to determine how the airport can sustain its revenues, passenger traffic and aircraft movements amid these uncertainties.

Gullas also wants to strengthen operational preparedness to prevent incidents that could disrupt airport services.

He cited the July 2025 runway incident, when heavy rains reportedly caused potholes that led to the closure of the airfield.

“It's hard for me to say now because I'm really new to this sector, but I want to be able to prevent... a major or a critical failure in its operations,” Gullas said.

He said the airport must be prepared for various eventualities, including aircraft-related incidents, operational delays and security concerns.

These preparations, he added, should go hand in hand with improving passenger experience and ensuring travelers can use the facility with greater convenience and confidence.

More flight connections, airlines

Beyond operational improvements, Gullas wants to expand MCIA's connectivity by encouraging airlines that previously served the airport to resume operations.

He specifically cited the loss of some major Middle Eastern carriers amid the Iran conflict, saying the airport would explore opportunities to restore those connections.

“We want to offer passengers more avenues for connectivity,” he said.

He also sees an opportunity for MCIA to attract passengers from other parts of the country affected by restrictions on propeller aircraft operations at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Manila.

Drawing from his previous work overseeing field units under the OP, Gullas said he had heard concerns from tourism-dependent areas, including Palawan, about the impact of the restrictions on their connectivity.

He hopes MCIA can serve as an alternative transit hub for passengers who would otherwise have to travel through Manila.

Gullas said domestic flight transfers in Cebu could be more convenient because MCIA has two terminals, compared with the more complicated transfer arrangements passengers may encounter in Manila.

Parallel runway, airport capacity

Gullas also plans to study how MCIA's parallel runway can be used more efficiently to accommodate additional aircraft movements.

He credited the previous general manager for pioneering the facility, which he said is currently used mainly during emergencies or when the other runway is closed.

While acknowledging that the two runways cannot simply operate independently under the existing arrangement, Gullas wants to explore ways to improve coordination between them.

He cited Manila's runway configuration, where aircraft can take off from one runway while others land on another, as an arrangement worth studying.

“Hopefully, there can be some... way like here in Manila, they're still able to have flights take off from another runway while flights land in another,” he said.

Gullas stressed that any changes would require technical assessment but said better runway coordination could increase the number of aircraft movements MCIA can accommodate per hour.

He added that restoring airline services and managing fuel price volatility would also be crucial to maintaining the airport's competitiveness.

Cebu as a gateway for OFWs

Another initiative Gullas hopes to pursue is positioning Cebu as a more accessible departure point for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from the Visayas and Mindanao.

He said the proposal involves encouraging recruitment agencies, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) to establish the necessary services and facilities in Cebu.

Under the proposal, qualified workers could complete more of their deployment requirements in Cebu rather than travel to Manila before leaving for their overseas assignments.

Gullas said the initiative could make deployment more convenient for OFWs while generating additional passenger traffic for MCIA.

“There's a lot of OFWs who come from Cebu or from the Visayas and from Mindanao, and if we can give them the choice na dinhi na lang sa Cebu sila pa-deploy, not sa Manila,” Gullas said.

Where the lawyer started

Gullas brings a background in economics, law and government service to his new post.

He completed his high school and college education in the United States, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the University of Central Florida.

He later pursued law at Ateneo de Manila University and passed the Bar examinations in 2019.

Before joining the OP in August 2022, he worked for two years under former congressman Eduardo "Eddie" Gullas and another two years at the Office of the Solicitor General, where he handled litigation involving right-of-way concerns.

He said his legal experience could prove useful in managing airport expansion projects, particularly those involving negotiations with private concessionaires, contract management and land acquisition through expropriation.

His previous government work also exposed him to regional development concerns, which he hopes to bring into his new assignment.

Despite spending years studying and working outside Cebu, Gullas said the province has always remained home to him.

“Even when I was living abroad or in Manila, I would still consider Cebu my home,” he said.

He also credited his father and grandfather for instilling in him the determination to persevere through difficult circumstances.

"My father and my grandfather always instilled in me this fighting spirit," he shared. — (FREEMAN)