MCIA runway up for repair

The landing zone of the runway of the Mactan Cebu International Airport will undergo repairs that will last for 60 days beginning July 21.

"The repair is badly needed. The repair should have been done in 2012. That is why for the airline companies, the repair is a welcome development," said Steve Dicdican, General Manager of the Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority.

Dicdican said that they will implement a five-hour runway closure on July 21 from 3 a.m. to 8 a.m. for set up and preparations for the repair.

He said that of the 3,300 meters runway, only 400 meters (or 200 meters each lane) of the landing zone will undergo repairs for the 60-day period, but that they will close 700 meters of runway for safety purposes.

He said the five-hour closure will only affect eight local flights. He added that except for the eight flights that will be cancelled, no other flights will be affected during the 60-day repair period.

Dicdican further said that the cost of the repairs will be around P60 million with P30 million allocated for asphalting and the other P30 million for electrical work.

"Kinahanglan na gyud ni ayuhon ang landing zone kay daghan na og guba unya reklamo na ang mga airline companies. Mao na nga nalipay ra sila nga finally i-repair na gyud," Dicdican said. —

Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/JBB