A peek inside the Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA) under the ‘new normal’. This was taken on June 1, 2020. | Photos courtesy of Norman Mendoza via Morexette Marie B. Erram
CEBU CITY, Philippines – The Philippines’ second-busiest airport has received accreditation from the international trade organization representing the world’s airport authorities.
The Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA) was awarded the Airports Council International – Airport Health Accreditation (ACI-AHA) on January 26, airport officials said in a press release issued on January 30.
“MCIA has received accreditation from the ACI-AHA in recognition of the health and safety measures implemented in Terminals 1 & 2,” GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation (GMCAC) said.
“With this accreditation, MCIA is recognized as one of the airports globally driving best industry practices for safe travel during the pandemic,” they added.
GMCAC is the privately-owned body co-operating and co-managing MCIA together with the Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) of the Department of Transportation (DOTr).
ACI-AHA, according to ACI’s official website, is an initiative aimed at assessing how health measures are being implemented in airports around the world, in line with the ACI Aviation Business Restart and Recovery guidelines and ICAO Council Aviation Restart Task Force recommendations, and other industry best practices.
Aside from MCIA, the other airport in the country that received ACI-AHA accreditation, based on the group’s map of accredited airports, is Clark International Airport in Pampanga.
Local airport officials welcomed the recognition the Mactan airport earned.
“Safety is the number one priority at MCIA, especially during this health crisis. We are committed to implementing and delivering best practices in the airport industry, particularly concerning the health and safety of our passengers, staff, and public,” said Louie Ferrer, GMCAC president.
They also said having the accreditation is a testament that MCIA ‘is on the right track’ in placing health and safety programs in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
“This will motivate us in working harder to serve the public better as our efforts are being recognized. As an airport, our stakeholders are working as one in the hope that as a country we will heal as one,” lawyer, Glenn Napuli, MCIAA acting general manager, added. /rcg
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