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Christine Boton - The Philippine Star
July 14, 2025 | 12:00am
He noted that the last documented repair of the affected runway section occurred either in 2018 or 2020.
STAR / File
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has initiated an investigation into the appearance of potholes on the primary runway of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA), a problem that caused several flight delays and led to the temporary suspension of operations on Saturday.
Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said the investigation aims to identify the cause of the asphalt deterioration. He noted that the last documented repair of the affected runway section occurred either in 2018 or 2020.
“We will investigate everything – from the quality of the last repair to the quality of the materials used,” Dizon said in a radio interview yesterday.
The runway damage forced authorities to issue a notice to close Runway 04R/22L from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) reported that repairs were completed ahead of schedule, and the runway became fully operational by 7:30 p.m.
“As of 7:30 p.m., operations were fully normalized,” CAAP spokesman Eric Apolonio said in an interview.
MCIA is managed by Aboitiz InfraCapital under a public-private partnership agreement. Despite private sector involvement, the runway failure raised concerns about long-term maintenance standards and the quality of previous repair works.
Apolonio emphasized the safety risks of such incidents.
“The runway, if there are potholes like that, is very dangerous for the planes that take off and land. The safety of the passengers cannot be compromised,” he said.
While the main runway was being repaired, the airport’s secondary runway – still not formally inaugurated – was temporarily opened for limited operations. It was cleared for use by CAAP after a safety inspection and was utilized for single-aisle aircraft, such as the Boeing 737.
Apolonio noted that the secondary runway could not accommodate larger aircraft, indicating its operational limitations during emergencies.
The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) directed airlines to provide support to affected passengers.
“Passengers are protected by our Bill of Rights. If they feel aggrieved, they may file complaints with the CAB,” Apolonio said.
Although flight operations have since resumed, the incident exposed vulnerabilities in airport infrastructure maintenance.
The DOTr said it would examine the circumstances surrounding the damage, including whether proper materials were used and if regular inspections were conducted.
The department also pledged to coordinate with the private airport operator and regulatory bodies to prevent similar disruptions in the future.
