Tuesday, December 6, 2011
REP. Pablo John Garcia (Cebu, 3rd district) yesterday said the Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA) property cannot be sold to any private party like SM Holdings, Inc. because it is being used for vital governmental functions.
Garcia said his legal opinion, as a lawyer and a congressman, is offered to remind SM and all those who want to broker the sale of the airport that because Mactan airport is a vital government facility, it cannot be sold, alienated or encumbered to any private person or entity.
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“I have nothing against SM, but let us follow the law. I won’t name names but people are so excited to get commissions out of this deal. But sorry to say that Mactan airport is beyond the commerce of man,” Garcia said.
Brokering
The congressman is suspecting that some people want to act as brokers for the sale of the airport because they want to collect a broker’s fee.
“I will defend this position that, under the law, it cannot be sold, alienated and encumbered because it is beyond the commerce of man,” Garcia said.
Garcia said that the MCIA may be sold if it is transferred and no longer of use as an airport.
“But as long as it is in operation as an airport, it is beyond the commerce of man,” Garcia said.
Meanwhile, the management of Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) has referred to the Committee on Strategic Planning and Development the letter of interest submitted by SM City.
Timeframe
General Manager Nigel Paul Villarete said there is no timeframe for the committee headed by MCIAA Board Member Pericles Dakay to come up with the comments and recommendations.
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However, Villarete said the matter might be discussed in the next committee meeting, which will be set by Dakay.
SM City expressed in a letter its interest to buy the entire airport property for its future development ventures.
It said the proceeds can help pay for the airport’s transfer to Cordova.
“That is not an offer to buy, but an expression of interest to buy,” Villarete said.
Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on December 06, 2011.
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