Wednesday, December 06, 2006 Mactan Air Base opens road
THE Airport Road in Lapu-Lapu City will be open during the Association of Southeast Asian summit from Dec. 10 to 14, although traffic going to and coming from the airport will be rerouted.
Lapu-Lapu City Traffic Management System chief Frank Brazil said people heading to or going out of the airport will be asked to stay on the side of Airport Road while the convoy of delegates passes by.
Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 Director Silverio Alarcio Jr. said in yesterday’s press conference that the delegates will take the Ibo Road in going to their hotels in Lapu-Lapu City. Only the delegates who will be staying in Cebu City hotels will use the Airport Road, said Brazil.
Traffic rerouting will start on Dec. 11, unless there are last-minute changes, he said.
In going to the airport, motorists are advised to take the Mactan-Mandaue Bridge, then turn left to M.L. Quezon National Highway then right to City Hall Road.
Motorists are advised to take City Hall’s back gate. Upon reach-ing the corner Sewage-Matumbo Road they shall turn left then straight until they reach the corner of Airport Road.
Arriving passengers will take the same route.
From the Airport Road they shall turn left to Sewage-Matumbo Road until they reach the corner of Mustang Road.
Instead of going straight, arriving passengers are advised to turn right to Mustang Road and straight until they reach the corner of M.L. Quezon National Highway.
Since there is an island in the middle of Quezon National Highway, motorists shall turn right. Upon reaching Allied Bank they shall make a U-turn and drive straight towards the Mactan-Mandaue Bridge.
The Mactan Benito Ebuen Air Base (MBEAB) will also open its gates as alternative routes.
MBEAB, home of the Tactical Operations Command 2 (2nd TOC) of the Philippine Air Force, will allow access for departing passengers with tickets valid for the period when the ceremonial route is closed.
MEAB roads connect Mactan-Cebu International Airport to Barangay Sangi, Lapu-Lapu City and to the first Mactan-Mandaue Bridge.
Maj. Gen. Horacio Tolentino, TOC commanding general, said this will ease public inconvenience during the summit.
He said opening the MBEAB gates will not compromise security for the summit since the 2nd TOC will guard the base access route.
The Sangi gate of MBEAB will allow access to private vehicles with departing passengers on board. Well-wishers will not be allowed access inside the base. Only the driver and the passengers will be allowed.
Base guards will inspect the tickets of the passengers and the driver will be issued a car pass that will be surrendered upon exit.
Departing passengers on board public utility vehicles and taxis will not be allowed access inside MBEAB. But ferries will bring the departing passengers from Sangi Gate to the airport via the base access route, free of charge. (OCP/EOB)
