Mayor okays MCIA’S P5.8-B terminal project

THE Lapu-Lapu City Development Council has endorsed the expansion project of the Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA).

City Mayor Paz Radaza signed the endorsement last Sept. 28.

Some members of the Central Visayas Regional Development Council (RDC) earlier voiced concern about the delay in the City’s issuance of an endorsement.

“Dili man gyud ta pugong ana (We’ve never opposed the project),” the mayor said in a press conference yesterday.

She said the City did not issue the endorsement right away hoping that the MCIA Authority (MCIAA) will make a partial payment of the taxes it owes the City.

Taxes

Radaza said the MCIAA has unpaid real property and business tax amounting to P1.5 billion.

The mayor said the City needs the amount to build more classrooms, since a portion of the tax will go to the City’s special education fund.

The National Government will undertake a public-private partnership to construct a P5.8-billion passenger terminal building for the Mactan airport.

Requirement

Before the National Economic and Development Authority-Investment Coordination Committee approves the project, it requires an endorsement from the RDC. The RDC, in turn, needs an endorsement of the city development council.

The Lapu-Lapu City Council approved the endorsement last Sept. 26.

Meanwhile, Radaza said that while she does not consider her rivals in next year’s elections as threats, she will campaign as hard as she did in the previous elections.

Radaza will face businessman Efrain Pelaez Jr. and 21-year-old student and businesswoman Karina Cabahug next year.