LAGUINDINGAN, Misamis Oriental – The conversion of the Laguindingan Domestic Airport here into an international airport would probably start next year, Department of Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said.
THE Laguindingan Airport in the province of Misamis Oriental. (Franck Dick Rosete)
Bautista, speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Laguindingan Airport Expansion Project on Sunday, February 4, emphasized the need to expand its passenger capacity first prior to conversion.
He said when capacity expands to 2.5 million passengers per year, they could start negotiating with other government agencies as their assistance would be needed to support the airport’s international operations.
According to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), the airport’s apron can accommodate up to four jet aircraft and one propeller aircraft, allowing for a total of 790 passengers to be present at the same time, but will lead to congestion.
However, through the project, that will cost over P32.3 million, the pre-departure area will expand from 743-square meters to 1,463-square meters and the passenger capacity will also increase from 500 to 860 passengers per airline.
CAAP is eyeing to finish the project in August.
TRANSPORTATION Secretary Jaime Bautista (third from left) leads the groundbreaking ceremony of the Laguindingan Airport Expansion Project in Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental, on February 4. (Franck Dick Rosete)
The DOTr Secretary confirmed that the unsolicited proposal of P12.75 billion from Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc., the infrastructure arm of the Aboitiz Group, to upgrade, operate, and maintain the Laguindingan Airport has been approved by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).
The project will now undergo the Swiss challenge process, where the DOTr is set to invite other parties to challenge the proposal of Aboitiz.
Misamis Oriental Rep. Yevgeny Vincente Emano stated that the Swiss challenge will start on February 7 and interested parties are given 90 days to challenge the Aboitiz Group’s proposal. If there are no proposals submitted, the project will be awarded to the company.
Bautista acknowledged the hardships experienced by travelers from Northern Mindanao where they need to pass through Cebu or Manila before they can travel abroad.
“It’s about time that passengers coming from the region will experience seamless travel. They just have one stop from here to their destination, either Hong Kong or Singapore, initially,” he said.
TRANSPORTATION Secretary Jaime Bautista answers questions from the media in an interview during the groundbreaking ceremony of the Laguindingan Airport Expansion Project on February 4. (Franck Dick Rosete)
Apart from the influx of tourists, the Misamis Oriental solon highlighted that potential foreign investors may also be encouraged to invest in Mindanao once the plan is realized, as they wouldn’t need to travel to Manila before entering other parts of Mindanao.
“Once we start the international (airport), we cannot prevent it. It’s like we are opening a flood. We cannot prevent a bunch of capitalists from entering our province or the center of Mindanao,” Emano said.
Laguindingan Airport is the second busiest airport in Mindanao, catering the cities of Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, and Marawi, as well as the provinces of Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon, and Lanao del Norte. In 2019, it was listed as the sixth busiest airport in the country.
Bautista also said they are expecting partial operation of the Bukidnon Airport in the municipality of Don Carlos, which is currently under construction, in 2026.