‘Cebu airport transfer long-term’

THE Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA) will be eventually be relocated not because of the long-term threat of rising tidal waves but due to economic advantage, the airport’s top official said yesterday.

“We should not look at the effect of climate change on the airport’s vulnerability per se but the entire island. I’m sure the airport’s vulnerability is not the real issue… it was just made an example to drive a point,” said MCIA general manager engineer Paul Nigel Villarete.

Villarete was reacting to a warning by Jose Ma. Lorenzo Tan, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) for Nature Philippines president, that the MCIA is one of six airports vulnerable to being submerged by rising water levels due to its lowland area.

In a speech at the Environment Congress in Cebu City the other day, Tan said that of the eight airports in the Visayas, only those in Panay and Negros Oriental that are not located along the coastline are safe from flooding due to climate change.

Villarete, however, said it’s not only the airport but a good portion of Metro Cebu that is vulnerable to floods caused by climate change.

“Adaptation-wise, there is really not much that we can do in the short term. The airport is a lumpy infrastructure investment and it will take billions to reconfigure it. Long term, we should address reality, and climate change is as real as you can get,” he said.

Villarete said there are plans to develop the Mactan airport as one of the first “green airports” in the country.

He said a committee is tasked to monitor carbon emissions and remind airline companies to reduce systems loss to lower pollution levels.

Villarete noted a 19 percent increase in the volume of flights for the first five months of 2011.

He said they also support Cebu City’s Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system for the airport to serve as an environment-friendly collective transport system for Cebu.
Ecology groups like the Philippine Earth Justice Center (PEJC) said Tan may be unaware of the local issues facing coal plants in Cebu.

PEJC lawyer Gloria Estenzo-Ramos said these issues include the pending Environmental Protection Order (EPO) in court and the disposal of coal ash waste on the province owned secured landfill facility in Naga city.

He also said the WWF is also more particular in partnering with stakeholders rather than ensuring environmental law compliance.

Ramos said renewable energy sources won’t flourish due to lack of government support. Reporter Candeze R. Mongaya