(Photo courtesy : PIA)
DAVAO CITY — The Regional Development Council (RDC) is studying the feasibility of establishing an airport in Davao Occidental, a move officials say could unlock new tourism and investment opportunities and help narrow development gaps within the Davao Region.
Priscilla Sonido, regional director of the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DepDev) in Davao, said the proposed Davao Occidental airport is included in the Davao Region Development Masterplan as part of a broader strategy to strengthen connectivity across the region, particularly in areas considered to be lagging.
Sonido said improved transport links are essential to bringing economic activity to growth corridors outside major urban centers. She noted that an airport in the province could make Davao Occidental more accessible to visitors and investors, giving the local economy a stronger platform for expansion.
The plan aligns with the RDC’s ongoing efforts to upgrade existing aviation infrastructure in the region, including the planned improvement of the Mati Airport in Davao Oriental, which has been allocated P700 million in the proposed 2026 national budget. The Mati Airport development program includes the construction of a modern passenger terminal building, runway and taxiway upgrades, expanded parking areas, and dedicated spaces for ground service equipment and fire station facilities.
Sonido said the Mati Airport initiative was advanced by the RDC to enhance tourism capacity and improve the area’s attractiveness to investors, reflecting how airport development is being positioned as both an infrastructure and economic strategy for the region.
For Davao Occidental, Sonido said the provincial airport remains at the proposal stage and will still require further studies before it can be advanced for funding and implementation. Officials are currently looking at Malita, the provincial capital, as the potential site of the planned facility.
The idea of establishing another modern airport in the Davao Region has circulated for years. In 2015, the RDC pushed a proposal for an additional airport facility beyond the Davao International Airport, with several potential sites considered at the time, including Santa Maria in Davao Occidental, Panabo City and Tagum City in Davao del Norte, and the Island Garden City of Samal.
At present, Malita has a private airstrip, but it is seldom used—an indicator, officials said, of both the limited air connectivity in the area and the opportunity for a more functional public facility if feasibility studies support the project’s long-term viability.
