BUSINESS AS USUAL. Quarantine personnel assist passengers of an Emirates flight from Dubai that arrived at the Terminal 2 of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) on Thursday (Feb. 6, 2020). GMR Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation chief executive advisor Andrew Harrison said it is business as usual at the MCIA despite the declaration placing the entire airport under a state of emergency following the confirmation of the third nCoV case in the country. (PNA photo by John Rey Saavedra)
CEBU CITY – The declaration placing the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) under a state of emergency (SOE) amid the discovery of the third case of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in the country does not hamper all airport operations, its management said on Thursday.
Andrew Harrison, chief executive advisor of GMR Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation (GMCAC), said the management has no additional requirements for passengers, airlines or concessionaires at the airport.
“The SOE has had no impact on the current state of operations at any of the two terminals at MCIA,” Harrison said during a press briefing at the MCIA Terminal 2.
However, Harrison said the temporary entry ban for foreigners coming from China, Hong Kong and Macao is still on, stressing that Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has issued an executive order imposing a compulsory 14-day isolation of returning Filipinos.
Lawyer Steve Dicdican, general manager of the MCIA’s governing board, belied reports that the airport has been shut down due to SOE declaration on Monday (Feb. 3).
“The purpose of the declaration of the SOE is to ensure the appropriate legal framework is in place should the need arise for MCIAA to take over facilities, such as aircraft hangars, to accommodate quarantined passengers. This is also to invoke police powers and proceed with emergency procurement if the current health crisis escalates,” he said.
Dicdican said the presidential order directs all heads of government agencies, including government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCC), to undertake necessary measures for the establishment of repatriation and quarantine facilities.
MCIA is operating as a GOCC.
Dicdican said being the main gateway to Visayas and Mindanao, MCIA wanted to ensure that they are prepared in case of any eventuality.
In spite of its power under SOE declaration, Harrison said there are no major changes to airport operations.
“There may, however, be procedural changes in line with government health directives enforced at the time, given that the situation related to the control and detection of the novel coronavirus is fluid and is constantly being monitored,” he said.
In view of Garcia’s executive order to control potential spread of the 2019-nCoV, the airport management put in place new precautionary measures such as mandatory health declaration cards for all international flights, continued denial of entry of foreign passengers from China, Hong Kong and Macao, and mandatory quarantine assessment for Filipino passengers and permanent residents. (PNA)
