The long-awaited expansion of the Mati Airport in Davao Oriental has received a significant financial push, with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) setting aside P700 million for the project in its proposed 2026 national budget. This major funding injection is seen as a game-changer for improving regional connectivity and unlocking the province's vast tourism and economic potential.
Senator Go Champions Project, Warns Against Delays
Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, a native of Davao Oriental, has warmly welcomed the budget allocation, calling it a critical move to make the province more accessible. During the DOTr's 2026 budget interpellation on November 27, 2025, Go pushed the agency to guarantee continuous funding and timely project execution. With the budget now secured, the senator stressed that implementing bodies must prioritize efficiency to deliver the airport's full social and economic benefits to Davao Oriental and surrounding regions.
"Sana po'y tuloy-tuloy na rin po ang construction nitong Mati Airport na dati pa nating ipinaglalaban," Go stated in a release to SunStar Davao, highlighting the need for sustained government commitment until the airport is fully operational.
A Strategic Gateway to Ease Congestion, Boost Economy
As an ex officio member of the Mindanao Development Authority Board, Go explained that the Mati Airport will serve as an alternative gateway to Eastern Mindanao, helping to decongest the busy Francisco Bangoy International Airport in Davao City. The new facility will also drastically cut travel time for passengers heading to the province.
Go, who earlier identified the airport as a priority during the 58th Araw ng Davao Oriental celebration on July 1, 2024, believes enhanced air access is decisive for tourism and economic growth. "Of course, with Mati Airport, we work together to develop tourism. Davao Oriental has a high potential," he remarked.
The province boasts world-class attractions like the UNESCO World Heritage Site Mount Hamiguitan, the surfing haven Dahican Beach in Mati City, and Pusan Point in Caraga, famed as the country's first sunrise point.
From Groundbreaking to Full Operation
The journey to revive the dormant airport, originally built in 1976 as the Imelda Romualdez Airport, reached a key milestone in February 2025. The provincial government launched the nearly P1-billion Mati City Airport Development Project on a 58-hectare site in Barangay Dahican.
This formal ceremony, attended by national and local officials including Rep. Cheeno Miguel Almario and DOTr's Engr. Eduardo Mangalili, followed an earlier groundbreaking led by Mati City Mayor Michelle Rabat and Governor Niño Sotero Uy. Former Congressman Joel Mayo Almario hailed the project as a turning point for establishing Mati as a tourism and investment hub, declaring, "The Mati City Airport is for everybody."
Funding momentum built with an additional P700 million secured in the 2025 General Appropriations Act, thanks to efforts by lawmakers including Rep. Sandro Marcos and Senator JV Ejercito. This allocation designated P300 million for runway asphalt overlay and P400 million for terminal and facility upgrades.
With the new P700 million budget line for 2026, the focus shifts to linking this crucial transport infrastructure directly to tourism growth, job creation, and broader economic activity. "Transportation has always been the backbone of our economy," Senator Go concluded, underscoring its role in connecting communities and providing access to opportunities. Officials are now confident that renewed investment and tourism promotion can finally transform the Mati Airport into a primary engine of growth for Davao Oriental and the wider Eastern Mindanao corridor.
