Over Bantayan Airport Province’s MOA with MCIAA terminated

CEBU, Philippines — The Provincial Board has nullified a memorandum of agreement Cebu Province, during the term of then governor, now incumbent Vice Governor Hilario Davide III, entered into with the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority involving the province-owned lot where the Bantayan Airport is located.

The MOA was deemed to be disadvantageous to the province.

The PB passed on Monday a resolution sponsored by Board Member John Ismael Borgonia nullifying the said MOA dated November 27, 2018.

The same resolution also authorized Governor Gwendolyn Garcia to sign and execute, for and on behalf of the Province of Cebu, the MOA for the nullification or termination of the said MOA.

On January 2, 2003 the MCIAA, the then Air Transportation Office (ATO), currently the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), and Cebu Province executed a tripartite MOA for the development of the Bantayan Airport in over 29 hectares of land belonging to Cebu Province. This expired on January 1, 2013 without being renewed.

On November 27, 2018, the MCIAA and Cebu Province entered into another agreement involving the Bantayan Airport and the said parcels of land.

Last September 12, 2019, Cebu Province, in a meeting with the MCIAA, requested for the termination of the said November 27, 2018 MOA, saying it was disadvantageous to its interests. It also offered to enter into another MOA that will be mutually beneficial to both parties.

As a result of the meeting, Cebu Province and the MCIAA agreed to enter into a temporary agreement nullifying the November 27, 2018 MOA, that will also contain terms and conditions to govern the management over the Bantayan Airport and the parcels of land belonging to the province while they draft the MOA.

Borgonia said the termination of the November 27, 2018 MOA is “beneficial to the interests of the Province of Cebu and not contrary to law.”

Borgonia added that there is a need for the Province of Cebu and MCIAA to enter into an agreement containing temporary terms and conditions to govern the relationship of the parties and for the termination of the November 27, 2018 MOA.

As stated in the earlier MOA signed by Davide, the agreement shall be in effect for 25 years.

In effect, CAAP turned over to MCIAA the management and operation of the Bantayan Airport effective in January 2018, this includes the buildings, other structures, as well as the parcels of land.

“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 read.

Pursuant to Republic Act 6958 or the charter of MCIAA, the administration, control, supervision, and management of the MCIA and other airports that will be established in Cebu Province belongs to MCIAA. — BRP (FREEMAN)