FOR REHABILITATION. An aerial view of the Mati City Airport, which is estimated to be operational in 2020 according to Governor Nelson Dayanghirang. (File photo)
MATI CITY, Davao Oriental --The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has allocated PHP200 million for the rehabilitation of this city's airport.
This was announced Monday by Governor Nelson Dayanghirang during the 52nd founding anniversary program of the province where he also bared that the airport may be operational by 2020.
Dayanghirang said the budget will be utilized for the rehabilitation and completion of the terminal building, extension of the runway, and fencing around the airport.
He added that he will be signing an Executive Order next week on the creation of Task Force that will facilitate negotiations with the settlers living near the airport.
However, the governor clarified that the settlers will not be affected during the rehabilitation process.
“If it will be operational, more jobs will be offered to the people here since we will be expecting an influx of tourist arrivals,” he said.
The governor noted despite the airport’s current condition, tourist arrivals reached 800,000 in 2018. For the first quarter of this year, he said arrivals have already reached the 400,000 mark.
“How much more if the airport will be operational? That’s why we plan to build an inland resort to add attraction to the tourists” he added.
The Mati airport was constructed in the 1970s and has a 1,628.85-meter runway. (PNA)
