CEBU CITY, Cebu, Philippines — Several Cebu legislators are pushing for a second airport here to be constructed in either the north or southern location in the province rather than closing down the existing international airport in Mactan and building a new one in the town of Cordova.

With this in mind, the Cebu Provincial Board (PB) passed a resolution requesting the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) to conduct a feasibility study for the construction of a second airport in either Bogo city or in the town of Medellin where the Board held its session last Monday.

Lorenzo Tan, the president and chief executive officer of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Philippine Chapter, earlier made a recommendation for a second airport in Medellin because of the existence of large, wide tracts of plain lands in the area.

Tan reportedly opposed the plan to transfer the MCIA to Cordova because of the heavy expense involved, considering that such a move would entail the reclamation of foreshore land in the town.

Board members Joven Mondigo, Jr.; Sun Shimura and Jose Ribomapil Holganza, Jr., who are all from the fourth district of Cebu Province, backed Tan’s recommendation by sponsoring the resolution.

At present, an airport does not only exist in Medellin, but also in Sta. Fe, Bantayan Island which the provincial government is currently undertaking improvement work. Both places are on the northern side of the province.

Cebu First District Rep. Eduardo Gullas expressed his preference for another airport to be built on the southern part of Cebu.