Transfer airport to northern Cebu, says Bogo City mayor

Instead of Cordova town, why not transfer the international airport to northern Cebu?

Bogo City Mayor Celestino Martinez Jr. made this suggestion as Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia pushed for the expansion of facilities of the Mactan Cebu International Airport during yesterday’s airport board meeting.

Cordova was raised a few months ago as an alternative airport site by its mayor Adelino Sitoy, a plan supported by Rep. Tomas Osmeña.

But yesterday, Mayor Martinez, in a press statement, said there were benefits of going north to Bogo instead.

“The airport transfer to Cordova would need the construction of another road system within Mactan Island and Metro Cebu, another bridge or new tunnel that connects Cebu City to Mactan Island and hectares of reclamation lands that will cause an uproar from environment advocates. This translates to untold financial and social costs,” said Martinez.

“I call this move the opening of Pandora’s box for accelerated growths in northern Cebu. With the realization of super highway in the north, it will only take 40 to 45 minutes for Cebu City commuters to reach Bogo while lavishing the view of the countryside greeneries and virgin beaches,” Martinez said.

He said vast plain fields in northern Cebu were suitable for an airport runway along with existing resorts and golf courses in Medellin and San Remigio towns.

Garcia, for her part, said there was no discussion of a new aiport during yesterday’s MCIA board of directors meeting.

Instead, the funding institution Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) presented the feasibility study of the expansion of the existing airport terminal in Lapu-Lapu City.

Garcia said she pushed for amendments in the feasibility study considering the longer time frame for the expansion project to be completed.

She said that Transportation and Communication Undersecretary Jose Perpetuo Lotilla agreed with her position and also pushed for a shorter time frame of the project.

The DOTC secretary or his representative is the chairman of the board.

Garcia, who sits as an ex-officio member of the board, said that from January to February of 2011, Mactan airport registered 237,926 domestic and international passengers.

This year, the number rose by 19 percent at 296,474 passenger arrivals.

There about 81 international and chartered flights and 510 domestic flights in the first two months of 2012.

“There is so much interest in Cebu … they always choose Cebu, whether it be conferences …,” she said.

The governor said growth must be sustained with a long-term plan to have a new terminal aside from the existing expansion project.

In 1985, the Mactan airport was built to accommodate 4 million passengers in a year. Now, the province is being visited by 6 million passengers per year, which is above its capacity, she said.