Bill seeks to include Lapu-Lapu mayor in airport board

Whoever is sitting as mayor of LapuLapu City may soon get a seat in the board of Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA).

This is among the amendments to Republic Act No. 6958, called “The Charter of the MCIAA,” as introduced by Cebu City north district Representative Raul del Mar.

The Joint House Committees on Government Enterprises and Privatization, and Transportation in a hearing yesterday morning approved House Bill No. 687, principally authored by del Mar, purposely to amend the Charter.

The bill was among the first legislative measures filed by del Mar last June 30, the first day of the new administration.

Del Mar is proposing to increase the number of members of the MCIAA Board of Directors from 11 to 13.

Such increase will accommodate as exofficio members the mayor of Lapu-Lapu City where MCIA is located and one more member coming from the private sector.

Del Mar is also proposing to reduce the term of office of the MCIAA general manager and all appointed members of the board from four years to three years, and to require that all appointed members of the board and officers of MCIAA be residents of Cebu for at least three years preceding the date of their appointments.

“This measure seeks to strengthen the autonomy of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) to carry out its mandate to integrate and consolidate the planning, development, construction and operation of MCIAA’s facilities,” del Mar said in a statement e-mailed to The FREEMAN.

Section 6 of R.A. No. 6958, incidentally also authored by del Mar, provides that corporate powers of the MCIAA shall be exercised by and vested in a board of 11 members, which shall be composed of a chairman, a vice chairman and nine members.

Under the proposed amendments, the Secretary of the Department of Transportation and the Secretary of the Department of Tourism shall be the ex-officio chairman and vice chairman, respectively.

The general manager, the director-general of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines and the secretaries or any undersecretary or assistant secretary designated by the respective secretaries of the Department of Finance and the Department of Justice shall also be ex-officio members.

In addition, four members recommended by the Cebu governor from the private sector shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines for a term of three years.

The Cebu governor or duly authorized representative shall be the ninth member.

Gregg M. Rubio/JMD

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