The latest Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) Terminal 2, hailed as among the best in Asia, will open soon.
Expressing excitement over the expected opening of the brand new terminal, Cebu City North District Representative Raul del Mar hopes that the domestic terminal may also be improved.
“It will be a great joy for our domestic travelers to experience the same standards as at Terminal 2. Cebuanos and all Filipinos will undoubtedly be filled with pride as this is an outstanding achievement,” Del Mar said.
The latest Terminal 2 will open on June 7, but full operation will begin on June 22.
Del Mar described Terminal 2 as “highly functional, elegant and simply comparable to the very best terminals in Asia.”
“I might even add – all over the world. This will give visitors to Cebu a good and lasting impression not only of the entire province of Cebu but of the entire Philippines!” he said.
In a social media post, his daughter, former Northern District representative Rachel del Mar, also shared her father’s enthusiasm:
“I’ve never been enthusiastic about an airport! Wide open spaces and a really modern arrivals area will probably be a welcome change.
“The toilets alone speak loudly about any place. As for disembarking passengers, it will be convenient because you will not have to carry your suitcase to the X-ray machine. You go to the check-in desk (which is 60 meters away in addition to the next one), then the bags are x-rayed.”
It was on April 23, 2014, when the Department of Transportation and Communications entrusted the operation and maintenance of MCIA to a consortium of the Philippines’ Megawide Construction Corporation and Bangalore-based GMR Infrastructure.
The consortium won with a bid value £17.5 billion. On November 1, 2014, MCIA handed over the operation and maintenance of the airport to a non-public consortium.
In the primary half of 2016, MCIA and GMCAC began the rehabilitation, renovation and expansion of Terminal 1.
This can be the primary stage of the project. The latest terminal constructing was designed by Integrated Design Associates Ltd. (IDA).
The planned area of Terminal 2 is roughly 45,000 square meters, with the potential of expansion within the second phase.
On May 22, 2017, MCIA adopted a resolution approving Del Mar’s proposal to start construction of a second runway.
Del Mar proposed that the development be financed with P4.9 billion from the P14.4 billion contribution made by GMCAC after winning the tender for the event and management of the MCIA terminal.
Once accomplished, the second runway will probably be adjoining to the present first runway and can allow for simultaneous runway service.
