DOJ reviewing proposal to transfer int’l airport

The Department of Justice (DOJ) will study on its own the legality of the proposed transfer of the international airport to Cordova town.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima told reporters that the proposal floated by Rep. Tomas Osmeña of Cebu City’s south district faces some problems due to Republic Act 6958 or the Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) charter.

She said the law prohibits the alienation, disposal or mortgage of properties of the MCIA considered as part of national security to parties “other than the national government.”

As DOJ chief, de Lima sits as one of the directors of the MCIAA.

“I regret that this matter caused alarm to anybody especially those who have been involved in the successful development of the Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA). We have started to study the issue,” she said.

De Lima said she became aware of the proposal during the discussion for the master plan of the MCIA that included the construction of a passenger terminal building.

But the justice secretary, who attended the graduation rites of students at the Indiana Aerospace University in Lapu-Lapu City last Saturday, said the proposal had yet to be referred to the DOJ for study.

The MCIAA charter allows the authority “to acquire, purchase, own, administer, lease, mortgage, sell or otherwise dispose of any land, building, airport facility, or property of whatever kind and nature” located in the current airport site.

But it said assets in the Mactan International Airport (MCIA) important to national security “shall not be subject to alienation or mortgage by the authority nor to transfer to any entity other than the national government.”

“We already started studying it. I’m sure that very soon there will be such request,” de Lima said.

At least five investors expressed interest to acquire the 300-hectare MCIA lot.

SM Prime Holdings president Han Sy earlier sent a letter to MCIA manager Nigel Paul Villarete, saying the company is prepared to buy the lot occupied by the MCIA if it’s up for sale or privatization.

SM’s proposal stemmed from an offer by Cordova Mayor Adelino Sitoy to MCIA officials to transfer the airport to their municipality which is doing a reclamation project.

Other interested large real estate developers include Robinsons Land, Filinvest, Ayala Land.

Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. also manifested interest to purchase the Mactan airport.

Osmeña said proceeds from the possible lot purchase by SM can fund the transfer of the international airport to Cordova town.

He said the airport transfer to Cordova will address questions on the airport lot’s ownership.

Osmeña claimed that ownership of 70 percent of the MCIA property is being questioned since most of the portions are either untitled or claimed by private owners.

He said the construction of the MCIA administrative building was suspended due to a lot claim by a private individual.

De Lima said the Aquino government takes the airport transfer proposal seriously.

De Lima mentioned Executive Order No. 29 which sought to pursue more aggressively a liberalization policy in international aviation in order to boost the country’s competitiveness as a tourism destination and investment location.

De Lima declined to give her thoughts on whether or not it is proper to transfer the MCIA to Cordova.

But she said if private firms wish to improve the airport site, they should do so in a private-public partnership. /Ador Vincent Mayol, Reporter