By Junex Doronio
SOGOD, Cebu — In his bid to help decongest air traffic and to have a main gateway in the northern part of Cebu island province, Deputy Speaker Vincent Franco “Duke” Frasco has expressed intent to establish a new international airport for Cebu in this 4th class municipality 60 kilometers north of Cebu City.
Frasco said that in line with the Marcos Jr. administration’s prioritization of government spending on infrastructure, he believes that the proposed Sogod Cebu International Airport (SCIA) will not only uplift the lives of the residents in the 5th District but will also bring a significant economic impact to the entire island province of Cebu and the rest of the country.
“The establishment of SCIA shall help decongest air traffic in the existing airport and will also serve as the main gateway in the northern part of Cebu, bringing more access and connectivity across cities and other countries,” Frasco said.
The Deputy Speaker, who also represents Cebu’s 5th district and husband of Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia’s daughter Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco, has filed House Bill No. 9665 or an act establishing the new international airport in Sogod, Cebu.
Maharlika NuMedia learned that the proposed SCIA will be the second international airport in the province following the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) in Lapu-Lapu City which is considered the second busiest airport in the country.
Acknowledging the vital role that air connectivity plays in economic growth and development, Frasco has aimed to boost the air transport sector in Cebu’s 5th District, with a vision of creating more jobs for his constituents and enhancing the tourism industry.
The Cebuano solon also expressed hope in attracting more foreign investors, opening local businesses to the global market, and generating income and tax revenues, among others.
Meanwhile, a new campus of Cebu Technological University (CTU) will soon rise in Sogod’s neighboring town of Borbon following its groundbreaking recently.
Borbon Mayor Noel Dotillos said that the CTU campus will be situated at a two-hectare lot donated by his family in Barangay Cadaruhan.
The first phase of the project, which has an initial budget of P85 million for construction, was made possible by Sen. Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara.
Dotillos disclosed that the project was initiated by Frasco, who sponsored Republic Act 11751, also known as an “Act Establishing a CTU Campus in the Municipality of Liloan and the Municipality of Borbon, Cebu.”
Rising regional political party Diskarteng Pinoy lauded the efforts of the two government officials, saying their initiative would augur well for the local government units’ economic thrusts even as it would also redound to more job opportunities to Cebuanos.
(ai/mnm)