4 private sector reps resign from board

THE four private sector representatives in the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Board Authority (MCIAA) board tendered their courtesy resignations yesterday.

Out of four private sector representatives, two were in acting capacity, which means former president Gloria Arroyo did not issue any appointments.

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The private sector representatives are former Cebu City vice mayor Renato Osmeña, Cebu Business Club president Dondi Joseph, newspaper columnist Bobit Avila and businessman Winglip Chang.

Chang's term is supposed to be extended to 2012 while Avila's term will end in August.

All the private sector representatives have tendered their courtesy resignations and it was their personal decision, Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia said.

The resignations were brought up during the "other matters" part of the meeting, which was presided by Garcia. MCIAA general manager Danilo Augusto Francia went on leave yesterday.

Garcia said Department of Transportation and Communication Undersecretary Aristotle "Totol" Batuhan attended the meeting but observed the proceedings, saying "he needed to get a feel" first.

The resignation letters were submitted to him.

Interviewed at her office before the MCIAA meeting took place, the governor said she can recommend who will sit as private sector representatives in the board but it's the president who appoints.

Floated

She also said she will be looking at the names being floated and she will carefully choose.

She is inclined to pick non-political personalities.

Earlier, Francia said Batuhan cannot preside the MCIAA board meeting because he is only an alternate to the DOTC secretary.

He said the MCIAA Charter (Republic Act 6958) states the secretary is the chairman and the general manager is the vice chairman.

In the absence of the DOTC secretary, the vice chairman (general manager) will preside.

Only the primary members can preside and an alternate cannot, said Francia.