P700M Approved for Mati Airport — Now Comes the Test of Delivery

MATI, DAVAO ORIENTAL (January 16) — The approval of P700 million for the long-delayed Mati Airport project under the 2026 national budget is being welcomed as a breakthrough for Davao Oriental — but local leaders say the real issue is no longer funding, but follow-through.

Senator Bong Go on Tuesday hailed the allocation under the Department of Transportation, calling it a major step toward improving regional connectivity in Eastern Mindanao.

“With the funding now in place, the project must move forward without delays,” Go said, stressing that budget approval should result in actual construction and visible progress.

Why Mati Airport Matters

The Mati Airport is expected to serve as an alternative gateway to Mati City, easing congestion at Francisco Bangoy International Airport while cutting travel time for passengers bound for Davao Oriental and nearby provinces.

For a province whose economy relies heavily on tourism and agriculture, improved air access could significantly boost visitor arrivals, speed up the movement of goods, and open new investment opportunities.

What the P700M Is Supposed to Do

The 2026 allocation is intended to fund key components of the airport’s development, including construction works needed to move the project closer to operational status. Go earlier urged transport officials to ensure sustained funding and uninterrupted implementation, warning against stalled or piecemeal progress.

“I hope the construction of this Mati Airport, which we have been fighting for, will continue,” he said in Filipino.

Accountability: What Needs Watching

With funds approved, attention now turns to implementation and oversight. For residents and stakeholders, the key questions include:

• When will construction begin or resume?
• Which components will be completed under the 2026 budget?
• How will delays, if any, be explained and addressed?
• Who is responsible for monitoring timelines and spending?

Go, a Davaoeño with roots in the province and an ex officio member of the Mindanao Development Authority Board, said national and local agencies must work closely to ensure transparency and timely delivery.

What’s at Stake

Davao Oriental is home to globally and nationally known destinations such as the Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary, Dahican Beach, and Pusan Point. Tourism stakeholders say better air connectivity is crucial to fully realizing the province’s potential.

For now, the P700 million allocation signals political support. Whether it leads to planes on the runway — or becomes another stalled infrastructure promise — will depend on execution, transparency, and sustained public scrutiny.