The Cebu Lahug Airport
When President Manuel Acuña Roxas assumed the presidency, he on August 12, 1947 issued Executive Order No. 75 entitled "Designating the Cebu Landing Field as a National Airport."
The purpose of the Executive Order was to accelerate the development of the civil aviation in the Philippines. With the reclassification of Cebu Landing Field in Lahug as a national airport, it was put under the supervision and control of the Bureau of Aeronautics, subject to the following conditions:
1) That it shall be made fully available to the Philippine Air Force in times of emergency, and
2) That a detachment of the Philippine Air Force shall be allowed to operate at said airport during peace time in furtherance of Philippine Air Force Missions, in accordance with agreements entered into by and between the Bureau of Aeronautics and the Chief of the Philippine Air Force.
Before World War II, the Cebu Landing Field was designated as a Military Airport and Landing Field. This was issued by President Manuel L. Quezon on June 25, 1938 under Executive Order No. 154. The Presidential directive of Quezon amended his earlier order issued on December 3, 1936.
The Executive Order of Quezon was issued for the purpose of the National Defense Plan of the Commonwealth of the Philippines. By making the Cebu Landing Field as a Military Airport and Landing Field it was made under the supervision and control by the Philippine Army.
The following conditions were made then:
1) That the airport shall be opened to civilian air traffic until such time that air traffic requires a separate commercial airport, and
2) That commercial airplanes using the airport shall adhere to the rules and regulations that may be prescribed by the Air Station Commander, provided, That said rules and regulations affecting civilian flying be coordinated with those of the Bureau of Aeronautics.
When President Quirino succeeded President Roxas, the former issued Executive Order No. 365. The order reorganized the Civil Aeronautics Administration, it also abolished the National Airport Corporation created under Republic Act 224 (the Cebu Landing Field, Lahug, Cebu City was under the National Airports Corporation in 1949). EO 365 was issued on November 10, 1950.
With the Executive Order, the Cebu Regional Office of the Civil Aeronautics Administration was created with the following personnel: One Regional Director with a yearly salary of P5,400, One Airplane and Engine Inspector with a yearly salary of P3,300, One Airways Facilities Inspector with a yearly salary of P3,300, One Clerk-Typist with a yearly salary of P1,680, One Messenger-Janitor with a yearly salary of P1,200 and One Records Clerk with a yearly salary of P1,920.
On July 31, 1990, when Republic Act 6958 was enacted, it paved the way for the creation of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority. It transferred the existing assets of the Mactan International Airport and the Lahug Airport to the Authority. It vested the authority with power to administer and operate the Mactan International Airport and the Lahug Airport.
The objective was to encourage, promote and develop international and domestic air traffic in the Central Visayas and Mindanao Regions as a means of making the regions centers of international trade and tourism, and accelerating the development of the means of transportation and communication in the country.
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