M’lang Airport Update WIDENING OF RUNWAY COMPLETED BUT NO PLANES EXPECTED BY 2014

By Manny Pinol

The expansion and extension of the runway of the M’lang Airport or the Central Mindanao Airport have been completed but those dreaming to come home to North Cotabato by flying direct to M’lang may have to wait a little longer.

Yesterday, after a quick visit to my birthplace and hometown, Mayor Lito Pinol, my brother, guided me back to the airport site in Barangay Tawan-tawan because I was excited to see the developments in the project.

It was a holiday, Eid’l Fitr, and the working crew and the equipment were at rest but it was evident that work was being done on the airport.

“The expansion and extension have been completed but there is a need to buy additional areas in both sides of the runway, at least 50 meters, because that is the requirement for an international airport,” Mayor Lito explained to me.

While a project monitoring committee headed by 3rd District Congressman Jose Tejada has been organized by the provincial leadership to oversee the airport construction, the pace of the work, both infrastructure and documentation, may not allow the completion of the long-awaited project until after 2016.

“Indi gid ni matapos hasta indi ka kabalik,” said a member of the family which owned the area where the airport is being constructed. (This will never be completed until you are back.)

I understood what the man was trying to say. The airport, many believe, is a victim of dirty politics and its completion is being delayed because the project is identified with me.

“Indi man ni akon, iya man sang katawhan ni,” I assured the man and told him that the project will really be completed because it is an important infrastructure facility for Central Mindanao.

In fact, the requirements and specifications are in keeping with the standards of an international airport.

I started dreaming of the airport when I was still mayor of M’lang from 1995 to 1998 but the actual construction only started in 2003 when as Governor of North Cotabato I was able to avail of an initial funding of P30-M from the Dept. of Energy following a directive from then Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

When my brother, Jun, became congressman of the 2nd district, he worked with then Sen. Richard Gordon, for the release of P100-M for the project in 2008 which was used to finance the construction of the first phase of the runway.

In 2009, the President visited the M’lang Airport for the blessing of the first phase of the airport runway. But following my political loss in my attempt to return to the capitol, the project was abandoned.

It was only when I asked Pres. Noynoy Aquino to provide funds for the completion of the project, even when I was already out of government, did things start moving again.

Representatives from the two congressional districts, Jesus Sacdalan and Nancy Catamco worked for the release of an additional P150-M which was used to finance the on-going construction.

Leaving the airport yesterday, I felt happy that the construction was on-going and even if the pace of work is slow, at least the airport is taking shape.

Deep inside me, however, I wished that our political leaders would gain more maturity and realize that projects started by their predecessors, such as the M’lang Airport, are not owned by those who dreamed of and initiated the projects but by the people of the province.

I hope that they will understand that political leaders come and go but the dreams of the people to have a better life and a brighter future are constant.

(Photos caption: Mayor Lito Pinol of M’lang shows the expanded and extended runway of the southern portion of the M’lang Airport. Second photo shows the northern portion of the runway. With me is my nephew, BJ. Photo by Eireen Romblon Pinol)