Flight school eyes town as new site

CEBU, Philippines - The Philippine State College of Aeronautics is eyeing Medellin town in northern Cebu as its relocation site to give way to the expansion project of the Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority.

 This was disclosed by Medellin Mayor Ricardo Ramirez after the visit of PHILSCA’s executives in his town last week.

 Ramirez said he was informed that the PHILSCA building in Mactan belongs to the Philippine Air Force while the lot is owned by MCIAA.

 Medellin has a vast area of flat land capable of addressing the requirements of an airport most especially the runway, which Ramirez said they have been offering to interested flying schools.

 “Ang naka-nindot kay akong gi-ingnan nga og seryoso sila mobalhin sa Medellin o mag-abli og campus diri willing ang lungsod i-donate kanila ang building ug yuta sa Curva ubos sa kondisyon nga ila gamiton para sa ila campus,” Ramirez said.

 PHILSCA’s Board of Directors is set to discuss the matter more thoroughly in a meeting next month, which prompted Ramirez to send letter conveying interest about the plan.

 “Kaloy-an sa Dios duha ka state colleges o universities ang dia na mag-operate sa atoa lungsod kay pirmiro ang CNU (Cebu Normal University) ug karon sunod tuig PHILSCA,” Ramirez said.

 Cebu Fourth District Rep. Benhur Salimbangon has filed House Bill 1943 seeking for the construction of an alternate airport to MCIA in Medellin, which is now pending before the House Committee on Transportation.

 Salimbangon said Medellin is suited geographically as site for an alternative airport, considering that it is situated near tourist destinations like Bantayan Island and Malapascua Island, which is being dubbed as a ‘virgin Boracay’.

 Salimbangon is also pushing for the transfer of all other aviation and flying schools from Mactan to Bantayan Island to decongest the Mactan airport.

 He said the existing airport in Santa Fe, Bantayan Island is ideal place for aviation and flying schools.

 PAF owns at least 17 facilities located within the MCIAA property and these are included in the airport services modernization.

 MCIAA needs close to P1 billion to finance the construction of the buildings that would house the different offices of PAF affected by the expansion project.

The construction of at least 17 buildings will be given priority by MCIAA to give way to the construction of new airport terminals and buildings as part of the concession agreement signed by the Department of Transportation and Communication and the GMR-Megawide Consortium.

 PAF is allowed to continue using the property on condition that they will vacate the place once the authority will use the lot. (FREEMAN)