Cotabato Governor Emmylou “Lala” Taliño-Mendoza announced that the Central Mindanao Airport (CMA) in Barangay Tawan-Tawan M’lang, Cotabato is among the 22 airports funded by the national government in 2024.
Around P300 million were allocated by the national government under the 2024 Aviation and Transport Infrastructure Program for CMA.
The funds will be used for the construction of the administrative building, powerhouse, control tower, water supply system, and rehabilitation of the fire station building.
Cotabato Province Third District Representative Ma. Alana Samantha T. Santos and Deputy Speaker and Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) Representative Raymond Democrito Mendoza teamed up to secure the additional funding for the fulfillment of the long dreamed airport of every Cotabateño.
“I also thanked President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and House Speaker Martin Romualdez for their support in completing the CMA,” Mendoza said.
Since November last year, the Department of Transportation (DoTr) has been closely monitoring the implementation of the CMA.
The DoTr, together with the Office of the Provincial Planning and Development Coordinator (OPPDC), inspected on November 16, 2023 to check the progress of the construction of the perimeter fence and rehabilitation of the passenger terminal building at CMA, which was accomplished due to the assistance provided by the national government through the DoTr.
Mendoza said the project will bring great relief to the Cotabateños when completed.
She is optimistic that the airport will open many opportunities in the field of tourism, agriculture, and economy not only in the province but in the entire region.
The CMA is included in the Mindanao Development Authority’s (MinDA) priority infrastructure projects portfolio and is seen to “catalyze inclusive and balanced rural development in Mindanao” and complement General Santos Airport and Awang Airport in boosting economic activity.
The project includes the rehabilitation of the passenger terminal building; construction of powerhouses; construction of vehicular parking areas; provision of concrete curbs, sidewalks, wheel stop, and pavement markings at VPA; construction of the 10,000 gallons water tank; construction of drainage systems and vertical path angle (VPA); and construction of transformer yard.
