Execs call to fast track project

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama wants the Mactan Cebu International Airport expansion project fast tracked to bring more economic benefits to the country.

Rama issued the statement after the Department of Transportation and Communications finally awarded the project to GMR-Megawide Consortium.

“The whole expansion and the whole infrastructures to be done at the airport can be unquestionably and indisputably bring more economic gain to the country because if there will be more economic activities brought about by the completion of the airport, infrastructure improvements, that would be a domino effect for the country,” said Rama.

Rama said the project should be implemented immediately for it to become an engine for economic growth.

“There should be no more delaying because the more delay that it will incur the more  it  will  again a deterrent for us to look forward for a lot of activities, tourists that we have been enticing to come and our Department of  Tourism and even our Cebu City Tourism Commission have been connecting  with some  stakeholders to attract  more  domestic  and foreign tourists,” he said.

For his part, Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III, who sits as member of the Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority Board, expressed a sigh of relief after the project was finally awarded to the contractor.

“What’s important there nahuman na gyud although naay case gi-file si Senator (Serge) Osmeña regarding the bidding process,” he said.

Davide was absent when the matter was taken up during the MCIAA Board meeting Friday in Manila.

He said he was just informed by MCIA General Manager Nigel Paul Villarete about the awarding of the project to the winning bidder.

Villarete reportedly told Davide that GMR-Megawide Consortium has satisfactorily answered the contention of the second highest bidder, Filinvest-Changi consortium, hence the Bids and Awards Committee awarded the project.

“I glad nahuman na ni no kay mao man gyud na akong gusto nga masulbad na ni nga issue,” he said.

Davide said the project could be delayed if the Supreme Court finds basis to issue a restraining order asked by Osmeña.

“I think there is a law that prevents the court from restraining in any government projects but ang korte na’y bahala ana, I cannot preempt the court,” he added. (FREEMAN)