By Ivy Tejano
KIDAPAWAN CITY – North Cotabato Provincial Gov. Emmylou “Lala” Taliño-Mendoza announced on Tuesday, March 18, that the development of the Central Mindanao Airport in Barangay Tawan-Tawan in M’lang town is moving forward as key preparations and infrastructure improvements are underway.
In her State of the Province Address, Mendoza said the CMA’s feasibility study and master plan were complete as the foundation for implementing various phases of the airport’s development. She added that these plans are vital for securing additional funding.
Mendoza reported that an additional 39.2 hectares of land was acquired for this over a hundred million project’s expansion and proper runway alignment. She said they are making all necessary efforts to expedite the airport’s operational readiness.
With the aid of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Region 12, Mendoza said 3.79 kilometers of the 4.109–kilometer access road in Barangay Langkong had been completed, along with 3.0 kilometers of the second access road in Barangay Rizal in M’lang.
“The compensation to 51 landowners, covering 103.2 hectares of the airport land, had been fully settled. The final processing and notarization of the Deed of Absolute Sale (Doas) is ongoing to formally transfer ownership of the lands to the CMA,” Mendoza said.
She added that 10 land titles have been transferred to the provincial government, while 18 go to the Department of Transportation (DOTr), which has been closely monitoring the implementation of the CMA since 2023.
Mendoza said a ‘pitching activity’ was also conducted to introduce the CMA to airline companies as a potential air route in the country. Two years ago, the governor mentioned that the pitch has been made by Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, and Philippine Air Asia.
The governor also acknowledged her daughter, the provincial council’s Assistant Majority Floor Leader and 3rd district Rep. Ma. Alana Samantha Taliño–Santos’s efforts, which made the DOTr and the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines allocate a P450 million budget for the CMA.
Rep. Santos and the governor’s husband, TUCP Partylist Rep. Raymond Democrito Mendoza, collaborated to secure additional funding for the CMA. The funds will be used for the airside and landside facilities, asphalt, and essential infrastructure for the airport’s operations.
The project includes renovating the passenger terminal, building powerhouses, creating parking areas, adding curbs, sidewalks, and pavement markings, installing a 10,000-gallon water tank, setting up drainage systems, and building a transformer yard.
As the head of the Regional Development Council–12, Mendoza said the provincial government approved RDC Resolution No. 26, series of 2024, which endorses the CMA as among the top 3 priority projects of Region 12 to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
Mendoza said the development of the Central Mindanao Airport is a significant step in driving economic growth, strengthening connectivity, and improving the region’s access to domestic and international markets.
The CMA is part of the Mindanao Development Authority’s priority infrastructure projects to promote inclusive and balanced rural development throughout Mindanao. It is expected to support General Santos Airport and Awang Airport in boosting economic growth
