THE House Committee on Transportation has approved a measure that seeks to rename the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) to Lapu-Lapu Cebu International Airport (LCIA).
According to Cebu Representative Raul del Mar, the author of the bill, House Bill 8170 aims to honor Lapu-Lapu, the native chieftain known as the Philippines' first hero.
Del Mar said the bill also aims to make the name of the airport consistent with the city's name and location.
“To honor Lapu-Lapu and be consistent with the city’s name and location of its airport, the change of the airport name from Mactan to Lapu-Lapu and the corresponding change in the name of the authority will serve two purposes: give Lapu-Lapu the recognition that the outstanding Filipino deserved, and in the same thrust, improve the choice of name,” said Del Mar.
The Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA), created by virtue of Republic Act 6958 of 1990, bears the name of the airport that it administers, which is located in Lapu-Lapu City.
Del Mar said it is prudent to keep the name “Cebu” in the airport name and the name of the authority that manages it.
“Thus the need to shift in name from Mactan-Cebu Airport to Lapu-Lapu-Cebu International Airport (LCIA), and, correspondingly, from Mactan-Cebu Airport Authority to Lapu-Lapu-Cebu International Airport Authority (LCIAA),” said Del Mar. (Keith A. Calayag/SunStar Philippines)