Central Mindanao Airport to spur growth in N. Cotabato once completed -- Governor

KIDAPAWAN CITY, North Cotabato – Governor Emmylou ‘Lala’ Taliño–Mendoza said the provincial government is speeding up the expansion of the Central Mindanao Airport (CMA) which is now in the land acquisition phase. Mendoza said the CMA in M’lang town will soon operate and serve flights from the National Capital Region (NCR) and some areas in the Central Visayas, as the government is continuously working on the completion of the project. The governor said the Provincial Legal Office (PLO) has already notarized 41 of the 48 Deeds of Absolute Sale needed to facilitate the transfer of ownership of private land to the provincial government and the Department of Transportation (DOTr). “The remaining seven are still under the process of complying with documentary requirements for the eventual execution of the Deeds of Absolute Sale,” said Mendoza. Mendoza said that 23 land titles were already transferred and registered by the Provincial Government and DOTr. Since February 28 this year, 85 percent of the continuing construction of the P32 million perimeter fence has been completed. The construction of the Apron and Taxiway, meanwhile, will amount to P75,840,383.92 to complete. The pitch has also been made by the three airline companies: Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, and Philippine Air Asia. The airport project site development has been carefully inspected and the plans for the landslide area and the construction of the open canal have been completed this month. Mendoza said the operation of the CMA will spur the growth of commerce and agriculture and even tourism activities, as the influx of tourists will visit the province’s main attraction even in the neighboring provinces. Though the CMA was made in 2009, it has never been used commercially due to documentary concerns. The building is one of the Mindanao Development Authority's (MinDA) portfolio of high-priority infrastructure projects. According to MinDA, CMA is anticipated to "catalyze inclusively and balance rural development in Mindanao, complement General Santos and Awang airports, and boost the commercial activities in the area where agricultural products, notably highly-perishable fruits, come from."