Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 12) – The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) government on Saturday said it plans to build an international airport in Maguindanao del Norte.
BARMM announced in its website that the proposed site is at Barangay Tambo in Sultan Mastura, Maguindanao del Norte.
Officials from the Ministry of Transportation and Communications of the Bangsamoro Airport Authority, along with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Sultan Mastura local government, conducted an ocular inspection of the proposed site on Aug. 3.
“It’s a welcome development for us, dahil malaking tulong ‘to sa ekonomiya ng Sultan Mastura,” Sultan Mastura Mayor Bong Panda said.
“Ang job generation ay madadagdagan at malaking impact ‘to sa kabuhayan ng tao,” he also said. “Maraming infrastructure, businesses at establishment ang maipapatayo sa lugar.”
[Translation: It’s a welcome development for us because it will greatly help the economy of Sultan Mastura. The job generation will have a big impact on the livelihood of our people. This will result in more infrastructure, businesses and establishments in the area.]
According to BARMM, the proposed site is an “optimal site” for the New Cotabato Airport.
The Cotabato Airport or Awang Airport, which is considered a major domestic airport, was reported to be operating below international airport standards, while its location “raised safety concerns regarding air navigation.”
It is currently located at Datu Odin Sinsuat in Maguindanao del Norte.
In June, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines closed the runway of the Cotabato Airport until Aug. 18 due to repairs.
