■ GMR-MEGAWIDE'S P208-B PROPOSAL TO EXPAND AIRPORT GETS MIXED REACTIONS
GMR-Megawide proposes a second runway and third passenger terminal P208B plan would allow Mactan-Cebu airport to receive 50M passengers yearly
GMR-Megawide’s P208-billion proposal to further develop the Mactan-Cebu International Airport will be a great boon to the local economy. If realized, the Cebu airport will be “the only Philippine airport with two independent parallel runways.” The proposal also includes building a third terminal. While the second runway is a “must,” the third terminal will signify the need for more ground infrastructure to support the influx of people. GMR-Megawide’s concession to develop the airport for 25 years does not include the improvement, operations and maintenance of the runway and other related facilities, which remain with the airport authority.
Business leaders have expressed support for the recent proposal of GMR-Megawide to further develop the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) for P208 billion. But the plan has also raised concerns.
Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Melanie Ng welcomed the interest to expand the Cebu airport but noted that the improved capacity entails “continued growth” of the economy for this project to be sustainable.
“Any infrastructure development for Cebu that will support and spur economic growth is definitely much welcome. It would be prudent, though, to coordinate with the DOTr ( Department of Transportation) and the MCIAA (Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority) for these proposals, as they’re the governing bodies for the airport,” said Ng in a text message yesterday.
The chamber chief added that Cebu will need more tourism promotions, both local and international, as this development is expected to welcome 50 million annual passengers once realized.
Last Sunday, Megawide Construction Corp. released a statement on the GMR-Megawide consortium’s submission of an unsolicited proposal last June 7 that would make the Cebu airport “the only Philippine airport with two independent parallel runways.” The proposal includes building a third passenger terminal.
GMR-Megawide is a consortium of Megawide and Bangalore-based firm GMR Infrastructure Ltd., which has operated the MCIA since November 2014 after winning in December 2013 the concession to develop the airport for 25 years. But the current contract, said Megawide, does not include the improvement, operations and maintenance of the runway and other related facilities, which remain with the MCIAA.
“Passenger traffic has shown incredible growth in the last two or three years. While this is good news for the country, especially for Cebu, we want to ensure that the airport can ably cope with this continued progress,” GMR-Megawide director Louie Ferrer said in the statement.
The consortium projects airport traffic in Cebu to reach 28 million passengers annually starting 2039, similar to the Singapore and Kuala Lumpur airports.
Cebu Association of Tour Specialists president Alice Queblatin noted that while the second runway is a “must,” the third terminal would signify the need for more ground infrastructure in Cebu to support the influx of people.
“Naturally, more ground infrastructure like wider roads, two more bridges between Cebu and Mactan; more rooms and other tourist amenities will have to be in place,” she said in a text message.
“Traffic will worsen if road ca- pacity and connectivity between cities are not addressed. While tourist arrivals may increase, a ‘positive island experience’ may not happen,” she added.
Cebu Business Club executive director Fernando Fajardo echoed his support for the proposed development but said: “There should be no subsidy. The project must pay for itself. In no way should the government cover any of its losses if there were any, both in capital investment and operating expenses.”
Aside from building a second runway and a third terminal, the GMR-Megawide group wishes to rehabilitate the airport’s existing runway and taxiways, add a fulllength parallel taxiway, as well as construct more rapid exit taxiways and runway holding positions.
The consortium said the 50year project calls for expansion of airport land in order to accommodate the new facilities. GMR-Megawide said it will look into options that will “minimize the impact” on surrounding communities, such as possible reclamation in Magellan Bay.
“We submitted a highly detailed proposal tailored specifically to the needs of MCIA, and we are looking forward to their response... As a matter of fact, MCIAA recently passed a resolution pushing for the implementation of a second runway,” Ferrer said.
Last month, GMR Megawide chief advisor Andrew Harrison said the company is on track to completing the construction of Terminal 2 by June 2018. Once operational, MCIA annual passenger capacity will increase from 4.5 million currently to 12.5 million passengers.