CEBU CITY: The Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA) is hailed as the first airport in the Philippines to be recognized as a “green airport.”
Julius Neri Jr., chief executive officer and general manager of the MCIA, said the premier airport in Central Visayas received the Platinum Green Airport Award 2024 from the Airports Council International (ACI).
“As the country’s first green airport awardee, we are grateful to the team working day in and day out, ensuring globally sustainable standards are met,” Neri said in a statement on Friday.
He said the award came after the Aboitiz GMR Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation, the MCIA’s operator, implemented projects aligned with the United Nations’ sustainable development goals, ensuring safe and sustainable operations.
The projects include executing policies and utilizing technology like solar photovoltaic (PV) systems to reduce carbon emissions and maintaining green spaces.
Neri said they are also encouraging passengers and stakeholders to support MCIA’s gree
n initiatives to make the airport environment-friendly.
The airport on Mactan Island is among the 12 exceptional airports across the Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions recognized for their groundbreaking sustainability efforts.
The award was presented during the ACI World Annual General Assembly, Conference, and Exhibition (WAGA 2024) held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from May 21 to 23.
In the 8 million to 15 million passenger airport category, MCIA outperformed Saudi Arabia’s King Fahd International Airport (Gold) and Japan’s Chubu Centrair International Airport (Silver).
The MCIA recently earned a Level 1 airport carbon accreditation.
Source: Philippines News Agency
