Cebu has taken a major step forward in relaxing the restrictions on flight operations as it has decided to resume international flights, which remained suspended since March in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak.
According to the official sources of the Philippines, the provincial government of Cebu and the Lapu-Lapu City government have mutually agreed to reopen the borders of this province to international tourists as a way of reviving the badly-affected tourism industry.
Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA), the Philippines’ second-busiest airport, will soon receive travelers from different parts of the world who arrive in the ‘Queen City of the South’ to explore its much-talked-about tourist attractions.
It is learned that Junard Chan, Mayor of Lapu-Lapu City, proposed his idea to Cebu Governor Gwen Garcia, who in her dual capacity as a member of the board of directors for the Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) gave her consent to the proposal of reopening MCIA for international arrivals. The governor is also favorable to the reopen of Cebu’s borders to the neighboring provinces in Central Visayas.
As per the sources, the officials are currently working on setting up the guidelines for international arrivals in Cebu province, post which the specifics regarding the date and month of resuming international flights to Cebu are expected to be revealed.
Cebu province comes under the areas where Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ) is being implemented. It is ‘the most relaxed form of community quarantine’ wherein tourism activities are allowed to resume.
