THE Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) has agreed to build 17 structures for the Philippine Air Force (PAF) before demolishing its buildings at the Mactan-Benito Ebuen Air Base.
Once the structures are built, construction of the MCIA Terminal 2 will start, said Gov. Hilario Davide III, member of the MCIAA.
The MCIAA Board met yesterday at the governor’s conference room.
In an interview, MCIAA General Manager Nigel Paul Villarete said they are looking at completing the PAF structures within six months.
Getting prepared
The MCIAA, in its Jan. 12 notice, informed Pamatong Grandby Joint Venture, the contractor, to mobilize its equipment so it can start building the PAF structures.
“Contract is for 10 months but we can do it phase by phase because there are 17 structures,” Villarete said.
The MCIAA will shoulder the cost of the project, which is estimated to reach around P800 million.
Pamatong Grandby’s winning bid, though, was for P670 million.
The 17 facilities are located in a 90-hectare lot whose ownership was transferred to the MCIAA when it became an authority in 1991.
PAF still owns 153 hectares adjacent to the Mactan air base.
In a press conference, the governor said if the contractor can hasten construction, then they can meet the six-month completion target.
Davide said PAF officials want the new structures to be completed before vacating their existing facilities.
‘Constraints’
“The only solution there is for the contractor since the contract for the replication has already been awarded to it. The contractor should start building already the 17 structures para makabalhin na dayon ang Philippine Air Force headquarters diha (so the PAF headquarters can transfer).
And then i-demolish mao nana aron masugdan dayon ang pagtukod sa Terminal 2 (And then demolition of the old buildings will follow so that the construction of the MCIA Terminal 2 can start),” said the governor.
Villarete said he met with PAF officials last Thursday.
“But primarily you have also to look at what are the constraints. The constraints really is we have an active airport and we have an active base and that means that you cannot just do something what you do in normal construction activities. There are security and safety restrictions. All of these we have to take into account,” Villarete said.
Earlier, Louei Ferrer, president of GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corp. (GMCAC), said the project should be completed “the soonest possible time.”
Construction of terminal 2 is supposed to start in the first quarter of this year. GMCAC will operate and manage the terminal for 25 years.
GMCAC will also rehabilitate the existing terminal.
Aviation News Philippines 