MCIAA got less than half of P14.4-B payment

THE Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) has received only P4.8 billion of the P14.4 billion paid by GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corp. (GMCAC) for the latter’s 25-year concession deal.

That’s why it doesn’t have the money to purchase lots that will serve as relocation sites for squatters on MCIAA properties.

MCIAA Assistant General Manager Glenn Napuli said the national government of the previous administration took almost P10 billion allegedly representing taxes and dividends.

“The law was not followed because the BIR, under (Commissioner Kim) Henares, was eager to get the 30 percent taxes and the 50 percent share of the DOTr even if the P14.4 billion represents a 25-year concession contract with GMCAC. The BIR even threatened MCIAA officials with a tax evasion case if the amount was not given to them,” Napuli said.

Napuli said the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) got P4.2 billion, while the Department of Transportation (DOTr) got P5.04 billion.

The formula of the sharing was 30 percent to the BIR, and 50 percent each to DOTr and MCIAA for the remaining amount. But the formula was computed not on the net income, as stated by law, but on the entire P14.4 billion.

Additional security measures

Had the BIR not forcibly taken two-thirds of the P14.4 billion, Napuli said the MCIAA could have bought sites for the relocation of squatters who reside on MCIAA properties in Barangays Basak and Ibo in Lapu-Lapu City.

“There was only an initial discussion on squatters due to lack of funds to move them. We have no estimate on how many squatters because we did not physically inspect that crowded area,” Napuli said.

He said to boost the airport’s security and safety measures, they are constructing a secondary fence at the side of Barangay Basak, as advised by the International Civil Aviation Organization and the Public Aviation Commission of the United States.

He said they just appropriated the P4.8 billion for necessary projects like P2.5 billion for the second runway, P400 million for the renovation of the four taxiways, and P200 million for the newly asphalted existing runway, among others.

Under the law on government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCC), a GOCC like MCIAA must first allocate funds to implement projects. At the end of the year, the MCIAA will compute the taxes and shares of the net income.

If the net income, after implementing projects, is P1 billion, the BIR will get P300 million, or 30 percent for taxes. DOTr and MCIAA will receive P350 million each representing their 50-percent share.

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