A SEA OF HUMANITY CELEBRATES VICTORY OVER MYOPIA, NEGATIVISM AND RIDICULE

Flying in from Midsayap in Manny Pacquiao’s Bell Jet Ranger helicopter, I felt goose pimples all over my body as I saw the sea of humanity gathered at the apron of the Mlang Central Mindanao Airport as early as 9 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 16.

Immediately, the memories of the years passed when this airport was just but a dream and a subject of so much derision and ridicule came rushing back to my mind.

The Mlang Airport, officially known as the Central Mindanao Airport, now in its final stages of completion with the additional funding of P154-M given by President Benigno S. Aquino III, is not a project that was started yesterday to “show off” and an “aroma” to make me or those who were involved with the project more likable for the 2013 elections.

I first talked about the dream to build an airport in M’lang in my inaugural speech as Mayor of my hometown in 1995, that’s almost 18 years ago.

After hearing that, my political detractors pounced on me right away and called that dream “crazy” and said that I was really talking about an “epot” (carabao dung) and not an airport.

As years passed with nary a talahib cut down to make way for the airport, the brickbats started pouring in. My critics said what will fly from my dreamed airport were not airplanes but a flock of “tulabong” (white heron), those lovely marsh birds which often perch themselves on the back of the carabaos.

But in 2003, with the support of then Vice Governor Jesus Sacdalan (now Congressman for the 1st District), I was able to convince the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to buy a 62 hectare property from the Hacienda Buenaflor in Tawantawan, M’lang as the site of the dreamed airport.

From there, I personally talked to friends to ask for help. Then Senator John Osmena gave P5-M for the fencing of the property.

Next, I was able to convince then Energy Dev. Corp. President Paul Aquino (PNoy’s uncle) to request Sec. Vince Perez of the DOE to release P30-M for the initial works.

Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo supported the project by approving the release of P100-M through the efforts of Gov. Sacdalan, Sen. Richard Gordon and then Cong. Jun Pinol.

That was when the 1.2-km. runway and the terminal building were constructed and a soft opening by President Arroyo was held in November of 2009.

Following my defeat, the airport project fell into a limbo as the new Governor declared she will not touch the project because it was substandard.

Where she got the idea that the airport construction was substandard was beyond me. But one thing was certain, she did not want to have anything to do with a major project which was identified with me, never mind if the project will change the destiny of North Cotabato and lead it to a more progressive future.

I may have been downed by my loss in the 2010 elections, but I was certainly not counted out.

Two years ago, I sent President Noynoy Aquino a text message seeking his help in the completion of the airport. He responded by instructing me to coordinate with Sec. Mar Roxas, then DOTC Secretary.

With Cong. Susing Sacdalan and Cong. Nancy Catamco (2nd District), who was my brother Jun’s opponent in 2010, following up the release of the funds, P154-M was finally allocated for the airport.

The additional work will include the construction of the control tower, the extension of the runway to 1.8-km. and the establishment of a fire station.

It may take another year or two before the M’lang Airport becomes commercially operational.

The impatient among us may again throw insults and brickbats against those who believe in this dream.

But I have seen the worse. I have been through the hardest part of chasing a dream. I will not be distracted.

I will follow the path of visionary governance and I certainly will not fall into the pit of the usual social anesthetic projects like slippers, umbrellas, green multi-cabs, covered basketball courts, rice dole-outs and cash-giving during election time.

Our people deserve more than these diversions from their actual needs to attain a better life.

Today, as we celebrate the start of the construction of the final phase of the airport, I thank those who believed and dreamed with me.

I thank my former Vice Mayor Luigi Buenaflor Cuerpo (who later became Mayor), Mayor Lito Pinol, Engr. Armando Jaromay and Engr. Gerry Guadalupe who waded through the tall “talahib” grass like a group of crazy people imagining where the planes would land.

The Buenaflor and the Cuerpo families, heirs of Don Tomas Buenaflor, deserve a lot of credit for agreeing to sell part of their property for the airport site.

Former Vice Gov. Sacdalan and the members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of 2001-2004 for allocating P12.4-M for the purchase of the land.

I thank former Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Sen. John Osmena, former EDC President Paul Aquino (father of senatorial candidate Bam Aquino), Sec. Vince Perez of DOE, Sen. Richard Gordon and former Cong. Jun Pinol for the release of the initial funds.

I thank President Noynoy Aquino, Sec. Mar Roxas, Sec. Jun Abaya, Cong. Sacdalan and Congw. Catamco for the release of the additional P154-M for the second phase of the construction.

Thank you too to the people of M’lang and North Cotabato for inspiring me.

I also thank the skeptics who ridiculed and insulted those who dreamed of the airport. Your insults actually challenged me and strengthened my resolve to pursue this dream.

Most of all, I thank God for his blessings and for giving me the will as strong as steel to move on and realize this dream of building an airport in the heart of North Cotabato which I believe will transform this province into a very progressive place where there is prosperity and peace.

God is Great!