MCIAA earmarks P30M for Bantayan airport rehab

CEBU, Philippines — The Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) is allocating a budget of P30 million for the rehabilitation of Bantayan Island Airport.

MCIAA general manager and chief executive officer (CEO) Steve Yuhico Dicdican said the rehab program of the island’s airstrip may start towards the fourth quarter of this year.

The budget will only cover the compliance of airport standards like fixing the runway, fencing, among others.

Dicdican said the Cebu Provincial government is also helping the MCIAA to fast track the rehab implementation, so that Bantayan Island can be accessed through air transportation again.

Early this year, MCIAA assumed the management authority of the airport on the island.

In January of last year, the Cebu Provincial government announced its plan to reactivate the airports in Camotes and Bantayan islands and included it in the six-year executive and legislative agenda (ELA).

The airport property in Sta. Fe, Bantayan Island is owned by Cebu Province.

CAAP, MCIAA, and the Capitol used to jointly operate the airport until their Memorandum of Agreement expired in 2013.

Dicdican said aside from attracting small commercial airlines to fly to Bantayan Island from Mactan Island, there are also a lot of chartered flights that are interested to directly land in Bantayan Island.

Aside from pristine beaches, good diving sports, Bantayan Island in the northern tip of Cebu province, had already made initial works on putting value on its potential of faith tourism on the island.

With the help of Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), the chamber's executive director May Elizabeth Ybañez said Bantayan Island, is set to offer more attractions other than the beach and diving.

Bantayan, she said could be developed as a pilgrimage and heritage destination too. (FREEMAN)