Cebu Governor Nixes CICC As Mactan Airport Passengers Check-in Station For Safety Reasons

Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III has thumbed down suggestions to convert the province-owned Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) in Mandaue City into a check-in station for passengers of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) because of safety concerns.

Chief Superintendent Manuel Gaerlan, Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 director, made the suggestion so passengers could avoid traffic in the cities of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu because of ongoing repairs of the Mandaue-Mactan Bridge and the road-rehabilitation projects in Mandaue.

Gaerlan said airline passengers could check-in at the CICC, park their vehicles there and take a bus to the Mactan airport, reducing the volume of vehicular traffic on the two bridges linking the Cebu mainland and Mactan Island.

But Davide said the CICC suffered significant damage during the 7.2 magnitude earthquake on Oct. 15, 2013 and super typhoon Yolanda on Nov. 8 of the same year.

The building has not been repaired as the repair cost could run after over PHP100 million.

Davide said is amenable to using the CICC grounds as a loading and unloading area for passengers bound for the airport.

He urged those who have businesses in Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu to leave their homes earlier than usual to avoid being late, especially when if they’re traveling during peak hours.

He said they’ve asked companies operating in both cities to deploy vehicles and help ferry their employees to and from Cebu City.

Davide said he hopes bridge repairs will be completed by June. (PNA) FFC/EB/EBP