DAVAO CITY (June 22) — The government will soon construct an airport in Don Carlos Bukidnon. The airport is listed among the flagship projects of President Rodrigo Duterte.
The proposed airport has 2.65-kilometer runway and capable of handling Airbus 320 and 330, and Boeing 727 and 737 planes.
Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri said lot acquisition which costs P54 million is expected to be completed this year, and fund has been allocated for it.
He added that another PHP625 million is already available for site development that includes earthworks and site preparation which is expected to start this year.
The provincial government is now preparing the relocation site for the 50 Indigenous People (IP) families who will be affected by the airport project.
The provincial government recently approved the budget representing financial assistance for the affected residents.
The Unified Ancestral Domain of Manobo Kirenteken in Barangay San Nicolas, Don Carlos town has earlier requested for relocation and livelihood funds from Governor Jose Ma. Zubiri Jr.
Headed by Datu Teodoro Andil, the group has asked the provincial government for a financial assistance amounting to PHP5 million to cover relocation expenses as well as livelihood projects. Affected families will be given PHP100,000 in financial assistance.
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) on Tuesday granted Zubiri the authority to extend relocation and livelihood assistance to the group.
Early this month, Zubiri noted the necessity to relocate the affected families for their safety and well-being.
The IP families said they will use the financial assistance to purchase a 50-hectare relocation site in Barangay Maraymaray, in the municipality of Pangantucan, it is adjacent to San Nicolas, Don Carlos town.
The construction period for the project is two to three years.
If completed, Don Carlos airport will be the fourth domestic airport operating in Northern Mindanao.
The existing operational airports include: Laguindingan Airport in Misamis Oriental, Labo Airport in Ozamiz City and Mambajao Airport in Camiguin. Lumbia Airport in Cagayan de Oro City.
Once completed, Zubiri said the airport will be serving the entire province of Bukidnon and the nearby provinces of north-central Mindanao such as North Cotabato, Davao del Norte, Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur and even Davao del Sur.-Editha Z. Caduaya/NewsLine.ph
