The ambitious expansion of the Davao International Airport (DIA) is making significant headway, with the modernization of its Passenger Terminal Building (PTB) now more than a quarter finished. This crucial infrastructure project is set to enhance the gateway to Mindanao and improve the travel experience for millions.
Project Progress and Key Details
According to the latest report from the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development–Davao Region (DepDev-Davao), the construction progress for the PTB expansion had reached 27.89 percent as of January 8, 2026. The project, with a budget of approximately ₱649,996,250.33, is a major upgrade for the airport's facilities.
The expansion will dramatically increase the terminal's floor area by 48 percent, growing from 17,500 square meters to 25,910 square meters. This physical growth will allow the airport to accommodate more travelers comfortably, with the seating capacity set to rise to 1,500 passengers. The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has stated that the project is targeted for completion by December 2026.
Addressing Passenger Comfort and Management Transition
In a related move to improve services ahead of the full expansion, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and CAAP have already taken steps to address passenger comfort. Following an inspection by Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez in October 2024, which identified excessive heat in the arrival area due to a faulty chiller, authorities installed three additional chillers to regulate the temperature.
This upgrade responds to earlier calls for action, including from Acting Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte in April 2024, who urged CAAP to resolve long-standing issues with airport facilities. The current expansion follows earlier renovations completed on the airport's north wing in early 2023.
Simultaneously, a significant management shift is underway. The Davao International Airport Authority (DIAA), created under Republic Act No. 11457 in 2019, is now in a transition phase to take over the airport's management and operations from CAAP. “Upon completion, the management and operations of the Davao International Airport and other airports in the region including all its properties, facilities, and assets, shall be turned over from CAAP to DIA,” DepDev-Davao confirmed.
A Priority Project for Davao's Future
Regional Director Priscilla R. Sonido of DepDev-Davao emphasized the project's importance during the Kapehan sa Dabaw forum on January 19, 2026. She classified the DIA modernization as one of the agency's “Big Six” priority infrastructure projects slated for completion within the current planning period.
The other major initiatives in this portfolio include:
- The Davao City Bypass Construction Project (DCBCP)
- The Samal Island-Davao Connector (SIDC)
- The Mindanao Railway Project (MRP)
- The Davao Public Transport Modernization Project
- The Sasa Port Modernization
This comprehensive suite of projects, backed by an earlier ₱1.07 billion allocation from the DOTr for overall airport upgrades, signals a transformative period for Davao Region's infrastructure. The expanded Davao International Airport will serve as a critical engine for economic growth, tourism, and connectivity in Southern Philippines.
