THE Cebu Provincial Government may partner with GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corp. (GMCAC) in developing the airports in the islands of Bantayan and Camotes.

GMCAC is the firm that operates the Mactan-Cebu International Airport.

Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia said GMCAC president Louie Ferrer and Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority general manager Steve Dicdican will join her for an ocular inspection at the airport in San Francisco town in Camotes Island on Monday, Nov. 25, 2019.

“GM Dicdican will be travelling to Camotes as well to inspect the airport. But here’s the good news: GMR-Megawide is also interested in developing both Bantayan and Camotes airports,” Garcia said on Wednesday, Nov. 20.

The governor said GMCAC may take its next steps based on the outcome of their site inspection.

“First they will inspect. There’s a possibility that they (GMCAC) might show interest in financing the civil works in developing the airport or the right to operate it,” she added.

Should GMCAC commit to develop the airports in the two islands, Garcia said the next step would be to discuss what kind of arrangement the parties would enter into.

“For the right to operate, we will weigh all possibilities. They could enter into a joint-venture agreement with the Province of Cebu. We’ll see how it goes,” Garcia said.

The airport in Camotes sits on a 27-hectare lot owned by the Provincial Government.

On Sept. 30, Garcia signed a memorandum of agreement with Dicdican at the Bantayan Municipal Hall regarding the operation of the airport in Bantayan.

Although long-term plans for the facility is to operate it as a commercial airport, the Capitol and MCIAA had agreed to carry out plans on initial upgrading so that the Bantayan Airport can meet the standards of a community airport. (RTF)