THE Joint Committees on “Government Enterprises” and “Privatization and Transportation” has approved House Bill 687 amending the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) Charter.
The MCIAA Charter also known as Republic 6958 was principally authored by Rep. Raul V. Del Mar (Cebu City-North District) in the 8th Congress in 1991.
The amendment of Section 6 of RA 6958 under this present 17th Congress is also principally authored by Del Mar.
The approval of Del Mar’s House Bill 687 was done during the joint committees hearing, which wwas chaired by Rep, Jesus N. Sacdalan (1st District of North Cotabato), last Oct. 18.
This means that the bill will be forwarded to the House Plenary for final approval and submission to the Senate.
In his bill, Del Mar wants to increase the member of the MCIAA Board of Directors from 11 to 13.
His reason for the increase is to include the mayor of Lapu-Lapu City where Mactan-Cebu International Airport is, and another one from the private sector.
Main change
Del Mar told Sun.Star Cebu that the main amendment of the MCIAA Charter is the requirement that regular members of the Board of Directors (five from the private sector and the general manager) must have been residents of Cebu for a period of three years preceding their appointments.
“This is to ensure that the majority of the members of the board are Cebuanos since two (Cebu governor and Lapu-Lapu City mayor) of the seven ex-officio members are Cebuanos,” Del Mar said.
He said that two ex-officio plus six regular members is eight, constituting the majority of the total of 13 board members.
The other five ex-officio members are most likely non-Cebuanos since they are national government agencies officials.
They are secretaries or their representatives of the Department of Transportation (DOTr), Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Finance (DOF), Department of Justice (DOJ) and the director general of the Civil Aviation Accreditation Board (CAAB).
“Thus ensuring that Cebuanos control MCIAA, which undertakes the management in supervision of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport and all other airports as may be established in Cebu,” Del Mar said.
He said the MCIAA Board shall promulgate its rules relative to meetings, quorum and compensation or allowances of the members of the Board.
No info yet
MCIAA General Manager Nigel Paul Villarete said he is neither aware nor has he received any information on the appointment of a new general manager of the airport authority.
“But I would gladly turn over the position and responsibilities once the order is issued,” Villarete said.
Villarete said there was no such appointment approved in the last Board meeting last Oct. 14, and they have not scheduled the next board meeting.
The MCIAA general manager is appointed by the MCIAA Board pursuant to Section 7 (b) of RA 6958 and Section 18 of RA 10149.
“If the new GM is appointed in the next meeting, then I will immediately and willingly vacate the position and arrange for a smooth and seamless turnover of duties and responsibilities to him/her as it is my sworn duty in my Oath of Office to obey all laws and decrees and legal orders of the Philippine Government,” Villarete said.
However, Villarete said that: “Until such time the new GM is appointed by the Board, I am constrained to remain in office in a hold-over capacity, and continue to discharge my functions. Otherwise, I will be charged with dereliction and abandonment of office.”