As their first step to aggressively promote Cebu to the global tourism market, new operators of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport, GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corp. (GMCAC), will launch the MCIA as a brand today at the airport’s MIP Lounge.
GMCAC is the company formed after the concession for the improvement, expansion and operation of the Mactan Cebu International Airport terminal was awarded to the highest bidders GMR Infrastructure Ltd. and Megawide Construction Corp.
“The brand-launch is an event designed to showcase the alignment of the airport’s new brand to the aspirations of the tourism and business industries of Mactan and Cebu. It will highlight the Cebuano cultural and aspirational influences that led to the final brand,” said GMCAC chief executive adviser Andrew Acquaah-Harrison.
Billed among the country’s most popular public-private partnership (PPP) projects under the administration of President Benigno S. Aquino III, the MCIA expansion is also one of the Philippines’ most awaited – the existing terminal, handling both domestic and international passenger movement, currently serves about 7 million travelers yearly, way beyond its 4.5 million annual passenger capacity.
Harrison said that GMCAC is developing Mactan-Cebu International Airport as a true gateway to the Central Visayas.
“The project covers the construction of a new terminal building (T2) and the improvement of the existing terminals facilities. The opening of T2 will effectively increase the total terminal capacity from 4.5 million passengers per annum to 12.5 million passengers per annum.”
Harrison said this brand launch will serve as the company’s show of solidarity with Mactan and the rest of Cebu and will serve as another important link in the value chain that collectively aims to increase tourism and business development in the province.
TERMINAL FEES
Meanwhile, Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III said increasing the terminal fees at the MCIA is untimely and unnecessary.
Although Davide didn’t say outright that he opposed the terminal fee increase, he said that although the terminal fee will be used to improve airport services, that will be difficult to implement since they have yet to expand the airport terminal.
Davide, who attended the MCIAA meeting in Manila yesterday, also said that there will be a rebidding of the ongoing relocation of the Air Force base.
The MCIAA board decided to have a rebidding after some bidders failed to comply with certain requirements in the last bidding and after the MCIAA board approved the MCIA bids and awards committee’s request to declare the bidding a failure.
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