MCIAA allocates P24-M for Bantayan Airport renovation

The airstrip in Sta. Fe town, Bantayan Island will soon have a newly-paved runway. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO / Bantayanisland.com

CEBU CITY, Philippines — A renovated terminal and a paved runway will soon greet the Bantayan Airport in Santa Fe town, northern Cebu.

Lawyer Steve Dicdican, chief executive officer of Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA), said they allocated at least P24 million for the renovation and further development of the Bantayan airport in 2019.

Dicdican said the P24 million will cover the renovation of the airport terminal and the paving of the 900-meter runway.

Dicdican said they are still reviewing the property covered by the runway of Bantayan Airport as they plan to increase its length by 300 meters.

“We want to at least make it (runway) 1.2 kilometers, ” he said.

Dicdican said renovation work has started with the airport’s terminal.

“In between the paved parts of the runway are sportions that are still not paved. We tried to bid it out but there are no takers,” said Dicdican.

Dicdican added that they will review the cost of the runway pavement considering the higher logistical cost involved since the materials will have to be transported to Bantayan Island.

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, in a separate interview, said developing the airport is good both for tourism and disaster response.

“Once the runway is paved, we will have decent a terminal. Tourism industry will be booming. It makes the island more accessible, ” she said.

The governor said the island will be more accessible to more people.

“During emergency, when some people will have a hard time crossing the sea, the airport will be available,” said Garcia.

Bantayan Island is considered as a tourism hub in the northern side of Cebu because of its pristine beaches.

The 176-square-kilometer island is composed of the towns of Bantayan at the center, Santa Fe at the eastern portion, and Madridejos at the northern section. / celr