President Marcos has inaugurated the new P2.55-billion runway at Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA), the first and only parallel runway in the Philippines.

In his speech, Marcos labeled the inauguration of the runway on Thursday, Jan. 30, as a "new victory" of Cebu, saying that the new runway "reflects the very essence of Cebu: it is dynamic, promising, and always ready to take on challenges."

The parallel runway, the President added, symbolizes "the unrelenting drive to connect, and to grow, and to lead" as it is expected to improve operational efficiency, allow for more flights, and strengthen MCIA's role as a key gateway to the Visayas and Mindanao.

"As the first and only parallel runway in the Philippines, this runway is a bold leap forward. It will help in your competitiveness, in your connectivity, and in your capacity to take in visitors," Marcos said.

The Chief Executive said the inauguration of the new runway aligns perfectly  with the preparations to undertake critical repairs on the airport’s first runway starting this May.

By 2028, the parallel runway is expected to be used simultaneously together with the original runway.

With two runways running full-time, the airport will have the capacity to cater up to 18 million passengers a year, Marcos said.

Last year, the MCIA catered to 8.5 million domestic passengers, nearly three million – 2.8 million international passengers, and around 67 million kilograms of cargo, nearly a hundred thousand flights.

Marcos also made assurance that the government is committed to modernizing and expanding the country's airport infrastructure, as improving connectivity leads to greater opportunities for Filipinos.

"It’s only a snapshot of all the exciting things that are happening in our airport infrastructure. It is part of our broader vision to advance the development of our country’s infrastructure," he said.

He outlined the Aviation Infrastructure Program, which has allocated P7.7 billion for the upgrade of 15 airports nationwide. This initiative aims to modernize facilities, enhance connectivity, and acquire state-of-the-art navigational equipment.

The President also cited the role of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in implementing airport projects. He said the signed concession agreements for the Bohol-Panglao International Airport and Laguindingan International Airport PPP projects aim to increase passenger capacity and improve facilities.