Executive Secretary Ralph Recto on Friday inspected the ongoing construction of the Bukidnon Airport as the Marcos administration moves to provide an additional P300 million under the proposed 2027 national budget to complete the project next year.
The airport, being built in Barangay Maraymaray, Don Carlos, is designed to accommodate jet aircraft and provide Bukidnon with direct air links to major economic and tourism centers across the country.
“President Marcos wants the Bukidnon Airport completed by 2027 so it can begin creating jobs, attracting investments and bringing more tourists to the province,” Recto said.
“This airport will bring not only Bukidnon, but the whole Mindanao, closer to the rest of the Philippines and the rest of the country closer to the heart of Mindanao,” he added. “It will allow people, products and opportunities to move faster.”
The project has received a total of P3.17 billion in government funding, including P1.36 billion allocated under the Marcos administration.
The administration provided P1 billion for Phase IV of the airport’s development in 2022, followed by P310 million in 2024 and P50 million in 2025.
With the proposed P300-million additional allocation in the 2027 national budget, the Marcos administration’s total funding for the project would reach P1.66 billion, according to Recto.
“Hindi natin hahayaang maging isa na namang proyektong matagal nang hinihintay ngunit hindi matapos-tapos,” Recto said.
“Ang atas ng Pangulong Marcos ay tapusin ang paliparan at buksan ito sa lalong madaling panahon,” he added.
The Bukidnon Airport project includes a 2,100-meter-long and 45-meter-wide runway, two stub taxiways and a 43,050-square-meter apron capable of accommodating six aircraft.
It also includes a 3,600-square-meter passenger terminal building with a capacity of up to 425 passengers.
A 2,500-meter runway strip, airport ancillary structures and air navigation facilities will also be constructed to support safe and efficient aircraft operations.
The runway is being built to accommodate larger commercial aircraft, including the Airbus A320 commonly used on domestic routes in the Philippines.
Recto said the airport’s capacity should translate into more flights and greater access to affordable air travel.
“Ang gusto natin, hindi lang may eroplano na makakarating sa Bukidnon. Gusto natin maraming pasahero ang kayang makasakay,” Recto said.
“If we can accommodate bigger aircraft and attract more flights and airlines, that can help bring fares down and make air travel more affordable for ordinary Filipinos,” he added.
Recto said the airport is expected to strengthen Bukidnon’s role as a major agricultural producer by making it easier and faster to transport products to larger markets.
These include pineapples, bananas, corn, coffee, sugar and livestock.
Beyond transportation, Recto said the airport would help expand economic opportunities by improving connectivity between businesses, communities and consumers.
“Airports do more than connect destinations,” Recto said. “They connect businesses to customers and communities to jobs, investments and essential services.”
“Kapag mas madaling makarating dito, mas maraming negosyo ang lalago, mas maraming trabaho ang malilikha at mas maraming komunidad ang makikinabang,” he added.
The Marcos administration is targeting completion of the Bukidnon Airport by 2027, with the proposed additional funding intended to help finish the remaining works and bring the facility into operation.