The Best Airport IN THR COUNTRY
It is Father’s Day today, and it may be a good idea for earning children to gift their dads with a trip. Cebuano dads are at an advantage. Their gift trip may start with a really amazing airport terminal experience.
The Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA) Terminal 2 had its inauguration recently, with no less than President Rodrigo Duterte leading the ceremonies. In seeing the amenities in place, the President described it as “the most beautiful airport in the country” today. That might be an understatement.
The airport terminal facility is being touted as “the friendliest resort airport.” And it may not just be a hyped-up tagline. By the look of it, it really is!
“The taste of the pudding is in the eating.” The MCIA Terminal 2 actually opens next month yet. That’s when international passenger experience becomes real.
People are generally optimistic about the new airport terminal facility. Everyone is, in fact, excited. The positive impression is prevalent among the guests at the inauguration.
It is necessary to cite the impression of the inauguration guests. These are people with discriminating taste, most of them frequent international travelers. Along with the President, top officials of government, the country’s business leaders and other stakeholders were in attendance.
They were Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Department of Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, Department of Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Lloyd Dino, Mactan Cebu International Airport general manager Steve Dicdican, GMCAC board chairman Srinivas Bommidala, GMCAC president Manuel Louie Ferrer, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar, Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez, Bureau of Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña, regional directors Shalimar Tamano (DOT-7), Victor Emmanuel Caindec (Land Transportation Office-7), and Ahmed Cuizon (Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-7).
Local politicians were present as well: Cebu Representatives Gerard Anthony Gullas, Benhur Salimbangon, Gwendolyn Garcia, Peter John Calderon, Raul del Mar, and Aileen Radaza; mayors Paz Radaza of Lapu-Lapu City and Luigi Quisumbing of Mandaue City.
From the business sector were Lance Gokongwei, Dennis Uy, Dexter Comendador, Glen Soco, Kenneth Coponpue, Cary Santiago, Mariquita Salimbangon-Yeung, Belinda Wong, Carla Larrazabal-del Prado, Joel del Prado. There were also several members of Cebu’s elite.
The P17.5-billion new MCIA Terminal 2 is aimed at reducing airport congestion and increasing passenger capacity from 4.5 million per year to 12.2 million. The design of the world-class facility is said to demonstrate the warmth and friendliness of the local culture. The terminal is slated to start catering to international flights on July 1. Work on upgrading the domestic terminal facility to similar high standards will follow.