CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The National Economic and Development Authority in Northern Mindanao (NEDA-10) will have a PHP12.7-billion budget for improving its airports, an official said last July 27

In a statement, NEDA-10 director Myla Faye Aurora Cariño said the approval of the amount would spur economic growth in the region, particularly in Laguindingan Airport in Misamis Oriental.

Currently, the region has three functioning airports, with one still under construction in Don Carlos town, Bukidnon province.

She said the expansion intends to handle a greater volume of domestic and international flights in the region for its transformation into a prominent e-commerce hub in Mindanao.

The budget for airport improvement forms part of the Regional Development Plan (RDP) 2023–2028.

The RDP was presented at the Trade Facilitation Cluster of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Philippines-East ASEAN Growth Area held in this city from July 25-26.

Local planners were also called upon to generate support for the RDP 2023–2028 Provincial and Highly Urbanized City Roadshows, which aims to promote the region’s comprehensive development agenda and engage stakeholders in the collaborative pursuit of sustainable and inclusive growth.

Misamis Oriental Rep. Yevgeny Vincente Emano (2nd District) already proposed a bill seeking to transform Laguindingan Airport into an international airport facility. (PNA)