DOTC studies new airport terminal

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) is now conducting a feasibility study for the construction of a new 126,000-square meter international terminal building at the Mactan Cebu International Airport.

DOTC director for planning Jim Feliciano, in a press statement, said that the project is now being reviewed by the department.

Feliciano said that the existing terminal building which currently caters to both domestic and international passengers will be used for domestic passengers once the new facility is completed.

He said that part of the plan is to upgrade the airport’s cargo terminal building and parking and curbside facilities. This project is under DOTC’s Public-Private Partnership Projects (PPP).

Feliciano added that the P5.8-billion project will be implemented under a Public-Private Partnership scheme and expected to serve approximately 10 million passengers annually once completed.

In July last year, the Korea International Cooperation Agency submitted and completed a feasibility study on the new passenger terminal building to the National Economic Development Board for approval and PPP implementation.

According to the DOTC website, the project involves the re-development or upgrading of the passenger terminal building and other essential facilities to cater to international and domestic airline passenger demand and a new cargo terminal.

The implementation schedule is from 2012 to 2015. Bidding will be within the first quarter of 2012 and awarding of contract will be by fourth quarter of 2012.

Robert Go, director of the Philippine Retailers Association and chairman of the Economic Development Committee of the Regional Development Council (RDC), said that airport expansion is long overdue.

“We cannot increase our tourism drive without the infrastructure. We cannot dream of catching up with Thailand getting 20 million tourists per year. We are happy with three million. We should make our airport world-class. It’s good we have this project,” Go said.

Eric Mendoza, president of the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that the airport expansion will address the rapid and steady growth of Cebu’s tourism as well as in Central Visayas especially that Cebu is strategically the center of the Philippines.

“Cebu is the favorite tourism hub and destination for tourist and commerce being centrally located plus the efforts of the local government units of continuing international exposure and promotions. The expansion is definitely a must to be done for a sustainable growth and development for Cebu,” Mendoza said. — (FREEMAN)