The Mactan-Cebu Airport is subjected to renovation with the aim of becoming the world’s first resort airport.

“The kick-off ceremony for the construction of the new international terminal for the country’s second-biggest gateway, the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA), is touted to be the start of Philippine airports matching the best in the world,” said DOTC Secretary Joseph Emilio Aguinaldo Abaya.

The project includes the construction of a new world-class international passenger terminal building (PTB) which is expected to end in 2018, and the renovation and conversion of the existing PTB into exclusively-domestic facility which is scheduled to end in 2019.

The ground-breaking ceremony was held on June 29, 2015 with President Benigno Aquino III as the guest speaker. According to the President, the following are some of the features to be added:

• additional 20 aircraft parking stands, each has its own aerobridge
• 13 bus parking stands to move passengers from the boarding area to the airplane
• more than 550 private vehicle parking stands
• a connecting bridge for the international and domestic terminal
• additional 100 international and domestic flight check-in counters to lessen the problem in delayed flights

With these developments, the airport’s passenger capacity is anticipated to grow from 4.5 million to 12.5 million per year.

GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation (GMCAC) won the bidding for the project and has implemented minor improvements in the existing airport terminal since last year. These minor improvements also called ‘soft improvements’ include additional centralized security check (CSC) system to speed up the processing time for departing guests, the adding of immigration counters, setting up of self-service kiosks wherein passengers can pre-check-in, and the installation of LED bulbs for inexpensive and yet brighter lighting.

“It is clear to us that GMCAC brings international expertise into running an airport, immediately it has already made substantial improvements without making structural works yet. What it will do now that we are breaking ground is exciting for us, and especially for travelers to and from Cebu,” Abaya remarked.

Here is the President’s speech during the ground-breaking ceremony:

source: gov.ph