CEBU CITY, April 8 — Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said he wants the immediate implementation of the P17.5-billion Mactan Cebu International Airport expansion project to bring more economic benefits to the country.
Rama issued the statement after the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) finally awarded the project to GMR-Megawide Consortium for submitting the highest bid of P14.4 billion.
This means GMR-Megawide will pay the government up front P14.4 billion, aside from undertaking the P17.5-billion airport expansion project.
“The whole expansion and the whole infrastructures to be done at the airport will unquestionably and indisputably bring more economic gain to the country,” Rama said.
Rama said the project should be implemented immediately for it to become an engine for economic growth, creating a domino effect for the country.
Rama said there should be no more delay in the implementation of the project because it will hamper the efforts of the Department of Tourism and the Cebu City Tourism Commission in attracting more foreign and domestic tourists.
Louie Ferrer, Megawide chief marketing officer, earlier said they aim to start construction in the early part of 2015, as the terms of reference set that the new terminal should be delivered within 36 months.
Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III, who sits as member of the Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority Board, said he had a sigh of relief after the project was finally awarded to the contractor.
Davide was absent when the bid was awarded during the MCIAA Board meeting Friday in Manila.
He said he was just informed by MCIA General Manager Nigel Paul Villarete about the awarding of the project to the winning bidder. (PNA)
09 April 2014
