Another first for the “Queen City of the South.”
On Thursday, January 30, President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos, Jr. inaugurated the new P2.55 billion runway at Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA).
The said infrastructure is touted as the first and only parallel runway in the Philippines to date.
““This new runway at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport reflects the very essence of Cebu: it is dynamic, promising, and always ready to take on challenges,” Marcos said as he gave praises to the province’s commitment to connectivity and economic growth.
PBBM also said, “There really is something special about Cebu. It’s a place where history and progress come together very gracefully, where tradition converges with innovation, and where the grit and tenacity of its people shine brightly in every achievement.”
Mactan-Cebu is the busiest in the Visayas region, connecting the province and the region to domestic and international routes.
The airport served 8.5 million domestic passengers and 2.8 million international passengers in 2024.
The opening of the second MCIA runway, which began construction in 2020, is set to happen after commissioning works wrap it May.
Although, it will temporarily serve as an alternate runway as the existing one undergoes rehabilitation.
The dual runway system at MCIA is then scheduled to go into full swing by 2028, eventually boosting the airport’s capacity to 40 flights per hour, up from its current 30.
The runway system is being used around the world, with notable examples in Southeast Asia being Singapore’s Changi Airport, Hongkong International Airport, and Suvarnhabhumi Airport in Bangkok, Thailand.