CEBU – Deputy Speaker Pablo John Garcia has opposed a proposal to rename the Mactan-Cebu International Airport to Lapu-Lapu International Airport.
Lapu-Lapu City Representative Paz Radaza proposed the name change which she filed in 2020.
The
proposal to rename the Cebu airport stemmed from a suggestion of the National
Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP). During the commemoration of
National Heroes Day in Taguig City, NHCP Chairman Rene Escalante proposed the
idea of “immortalizing and popularizing” Lapu-Lapu in the country and on a
global scale.
But Garcia
made the manifestation to the Committee on Transportation which carried out an
initial deliberation of the bills. He said there is no compelling reason to
change the name of the airport.
“The
name itself is not objectionable; it is perfectly descriptive of the geographic
fact that the airport is on the island of Mactan in the Province of Cebu,” he
said.
Garcia
also emphasized that since 1956 when it was built as an airbase followed by its
conversion to a civilian airport until now, the facility was named Mactan and
the Cebuanos have always referred to it as such.
“The
generations of Cebuanos, for whom the airport was built, have always known it
as Mactan and have never thought it needed to be changed for any reason.
Changing its name would erase more than 50 years of history,” he said, adding,
aside from history, renaming the airport would also erase its name and brand
recognition.
He
highlighted the resources, time, and effort the Mactan Cebu International
Airport Authority and GMR Megawide Airport Corporation have spent over the
years to market the airport as Mactan Cebu International Airport.
“Much
of that will go down the drain if we change the name – if we change the brand –
of Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority. Should we really be doing that
now, as our economy struggles to recover in this pandemic, and we see the
region relying upon tourism as key economic driver? Do we spend millions again
marketing a new name and brand, when these resources could be better put to use
elsewhere in our recovery?” he argued.
For
Garcia, naming the Opon town to Lapu-Lapu City in 1961 is “supreme recognition”
already. “Besides, the name Mactan is inextricably linked with the heroism of
Lapu-Lapu so that there is really no compelling need for the renaming,” he said.
He
argued that if the renaming aims to emphasize that the airport is in Lapu-Lapu
City, it is not enough reason as Mactan as an island where the facility is
located covers not just the city but Cordova town as well.
Garcia
further reasoned out that Mactan as a place-name is rich in historical and
cultural meaning and association. “It is the site of this archipelago’s first
known resistance against colonial rule. There is a reason why Lapu-Lapu City’s
colorful festival – certainly one of the best in the country – is known as
“Kadaugan sa Mactan” and not “Kadaugan sa Lapu-Lapu,” he said.
He
stressed that the name of the country’s second busiest airport should not be
changed without consulting the people, the organizations, the sectors that have
contributed to the airport’s vitality through their daily patronage.
“We
should hear from the locators of the Mactan Export Processing Zone whether they
would want to lose the advantage of having its name associated with an airport
nearby. We should hear from the tourism sector not only in Cebu, but in the
whole Visayas, who have contributed greatly to the marketing of the brand –
Mactan Cebu International Airport,” he said.
“We
should hear from the millions of people of the City of Cebu, and the 44
municipalities and six (6) component cities of the Province of Cebu, who, after
all, co-own the airport with the people of Lapu-Lapu City, whether the airport,
which they have historically, consistently, and endearingly called “Mactan”
should be changed at all; and whether we should change it now, as we struggle
to pick up the broken pieces of our lives and livelihoods without knowing when
this pandemic will end,” he added.
In
August 2019, Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia already expressed her objection to
the name change.
“I
would wish for it to continue to be named as Mactan-Cebu International Airport
because it recognizes the fact that the airport is in Cebu kay naa man ang
pangan nga Cebu. Naa ang pangan sa Mactan kay naa man na’s Island of Mactan,”
she said.
Meanwhile,
the Mactan-Cebu International Airport said it has received
accreditation from the ACI-AHA in recognition of the health and safety measures
implemented in Terminals 1 & 2.
ACI-AHA refers to the Airports Council International–Airport
Health Accreditation.
Louie Ferrer, President of GMR MEGAWIDE Cebu Airport
Corporation (GMCAC), the private airport operator, said these health and safety
measures meet global airport standards such as the ACI Aviation Business
Restart and Recovery guidelines, ICAO Council Aviation Restart Task Force
(CART) recommendations, as well as other industry best practices.
He said with this accreditation, Mactan-Cebu International
Airport is recognized as one of the airports globally driving best industry
practices for safe travel during the pandemic. The Airport Health Accreditation
Certification was awarded on January 26.
“Safety is
the number one priority at Mactan-Cebu International Airport, especially during
this health crisis. We are committed to implementing and delivering best
practices in the airport industry, particularly concerning the health and
safety of our passengers, staff, and public. This health crisis is one that all
airport stakeholders and all Filipinos should address, and we are thankful to
our partners at MCIA for making safety their number one priority,” Ferrer said.
(Eleanor Valeros, Cebu Examiner)
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