Changes under study in Mactan airport charter

Proposed changes are being studied by Congress to amend the charter of the Mactan Cebu International Authority (MCIAA).

Three bills filed by Cebu congressmen seek to redefine who selects private sector members in the board, tax exemption, and whether airport employees should remain subject to Civil Service laws.

In yesterday’s first hearing in Quezon City, a Technical Working Group (TWG) was formed by the joint House committees on transportation and enterprises.

The three bills were filed by Reps. Arturo Radaza of Lapu-Lapu City, Rachel “Cutie” del Mar of Cebu City and Pablo John Garcia of Cebu’s 3rd district.

Rep. Garcia, younger brother of Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, said the board’s private sector representatives should still be recommended by the governor but he wants three, not four directors in House Bill 2003. The extra seat would go to the Lapu-Lapu city mayor.

The original airport charter or Republic Act 6958 of 1990 sets four private sector members serving a 4-year term.

The Radaza Bill wants the Lapu-Lapu mayor to recommend the private sector members. Del Mar, however, wants the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry to identify them.

The MCIAA charter was authored by Del Mar’s father, Raul, former House Deputy Speaker.

All three proponents agree on one change—that the Lapu-Lapu City mayor should sit in the board, which was not provided in the original charter.

On taxation, where the charter declares the MCIA exempt from real estate taxes, Radaza, whose wife Paz, is mayor of Lapu-Lapu City, wants the airport operations taxable.

In Cebu, Mayor Paz Radaza told reporters the MCIAA has P1.3 billion in real property tax obligations to the city government since 2002.

“It’s about time they pay,” she said.

However, Garcia and Del Mar want the airport to remain exempt from payment of all real property taxes.

Garcia explained that a Supreme Court decision was already rendered in 2009 in the case of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport against Pasay City.

“You can’t tax airport facilities. Airport facilities are state facilities used for essential governmental functions. It would be like government taxing itself,” Garcia said.

Garcia said Radaza’s position to let the Lapu-Lapu mayor recommend private sector members is “ridiculous.”

“The MCIA’s jurisdiction covers Cebu province, including that of Bantayan and Camotes as well as all future airports to be built within the province,” he said.

On the applicability of Civil Service Laws, Radaza and Del Mar want to keep the status quo.

Radaza, who is recovering from knee surgery, did not attend the hearing He was represented by Rep. Rufus Rodriguez of Cagayan de Oro’s 2nd district.

The next hearing has yet to be scheduled, said Garcia. With Reporter Jucell Marie P. Cuyos