Mlang, North Cotabato – First-term Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go has assured the people of Central Mindanao that he will work on and ensure the opening and operation of a strategic airport project in Mlang, North Cotabato.
Following instructions given by President Rody Duterte during their visit to Mlang on Dec. 30, Sen. Go said he will immediately coordinate with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) for the completion of the airport located in the midst of Central Mindanao.
“I will talk to Sec. Art (Tugade) immediately so that work will be resumed. I will also talk to my colleagues in the Senate to help me provide funds for this project,” Sen. Go said.
The Mlang Airport Project is a brainchild of former Cotabato Governor and former Agriculture Secretary Manny Pinol, now Chairman of the Mindanao Development Authority.
Using government funds, the provincial government acquired 62 hectares from the heirs of the late Don Tomas Buenaflor in Tawantawan, Mlang in 2003.
With funding support from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo through the Department of Energy, Senator John Osmena, Senator Richard Gordon, then Congressmen Bernardo Pinol Jr., Jesus Sacdalan and Nancy Catamco, the airport project took shape.
The 1.8-kilometer runway and terminal building were completed in 2010 under then Gov. Sacdalan.
The project, however, was mothballed during the 9-year term of then Governor, now Vice Governor Emmylou Mendoza, who cited missing documents as the reason behind the failure of the provincial government to turn over the 62-hectare property to the DOTr.
During a simple lunch with President Duterte on Dec. 30, the new Governor, Nancy Catamco, assured the President and Sen. Bong Go that the documents needed for the transfer of the property to DOTr will be completed.
Sen. Go said the Central Mindanao Airport is a very important facility which could boost the economy of the region.
He promised to personally oversee the completion and inauguration of the project before President Duterte leaves office by mid-2022.
(Groupie photo of Sen. Go, Sec. Ed Ano, Sec. Manny Pinol, Gov. Catamco and Mayor Russel Abonado was taken by Sen Go. Photo of the location map of the airport was downloaded from CAAP website.)
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