THE Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) has clarified that it will be the one to undertake the construction of the second runway of the second busiest airport in the Philippines, an initiative that is distinct and independent from the second MCIAA runway bill pending in Congress.

Steve Dicdican, general manager of MCIAA, said that Phil. JAC Inc. has been awarded as the project consultant of the second runway and is tasked with the design of the runway and its project management.

The timeline for the design of the runway is six months and is expected to finish before the end of 2019.

While MCIAA was informed that Cebu City 1st District Rep. Raul V. del Mar authored House Bill 149 proposing for the construction of the second runway of the airport by the Department of Transportation, MCIAA is still proceeding with its own runway initiative, the construction of which is scheduled to start sometime in January of 2020.

The MCIAA board consulted with Del Mar to harmonize its initiative with his bill, and the congressman assured the MCIAA that there is no need to worry because the bill will not catch up with MCIAA’s initiative of building the second runway.

Del Mar also said he respects the decision of the board for its initiative, and he urged the board not to defer its initiative nor wait for the bill to become a law.

Dicdican also apologized for the delay in pursuing the runway project, which the new MCIAA board under the Duterte Administration had promised during their assumption in December of 2016 and explained that the planning phase takes time.

He further revealed that the MCIAA board is resolved to proceed with the construction of the runway despite the pending bill.

The second MCIA runway which is 3.3 kilometers long will cost the MCIAA P2.5 billion and is scheduled to be completed by December 2022. (PR)