Air travel resumes in Cotabato.
The reopening of Cotabato Airport on Sunday was met with great joy by traders and health workers. The airport had been closed for three months due to reconstruction of the runway, which had caused commercial flights to be suspended and hindered the delivery of goods and important medical supplies.
Paisalin P. Tago, the minister of transportation and communications in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), oversaw the symbolic reopening of the facility. This happened as passengers disembarked from the first commercial flight to land at the airport since its closure in June.
On Monday, John Oberio Maliga, physician and spokesman of the Cotabato Regional Medical Center, here, expressed gratitude to BARMM authorities for prodding the runway contractor to finish the project ahead of the target completion date in November.
The closure of the airport has caused numerous investors to postpone their planned exploratory visits to the city, according to Mohammad O. Pasigan, Chairman of the Bangsamoro Regional Board of Investments. However, Mr. Pasigan stated that they can now encourage these investors to continue with their plans to experience the improving investment climate in Cotabato City and neighboring Bangsamoro municipalities.
The airport is situated in Barangay Awang, within the town of Datu Odin Sinsuat in Maguindanao del Norte. It is just seven kilometers away from the city center, where the regional capitol of BARMM is situated.
Mr. Tago stated that they recognized the contribution of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) in expediting the reconstruction of the airport runway, even though it is not under the jurisdiction of the BARMM government.
th Infantry Division
He stated that their current priority is to enhance collaboration among the personnel of CAAP, the local members of the civil aviation security force from the Philippine National Police, and the Army’s 6th Infantry Division.th
John Felix M. Unson led the Infantry Division in the protection and defense of the recently reopened Cotabato Airport.