The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is making do with the limited funds allocated for the upgrade of Camiguin Airport, which needs a new runway to accommodate wide body aircraft in anticipation of more tourists after the province in Northern Mindanao was tagged among the 52 places to go this 2026 by the The New York Times.
According to the DOTr, the cost of the entire Camiguin Airport upgrade—including right of way acquisition, a new runway, a new passenger terminal, an apron, among others—is around PHP5 billion. However, only PHP750 million was released in 2024. There were also two tranches—PHP180 million and PHP150 million (PHP330 million) —in fund releases for the asphalt overlay of the existing airport.
“DOTr is just doing what it can right now for the new airport prioritizing the runway first and utilizing the existing terminal until we have the budget for the new airport,” the DOTr said.
Transportation Secretary Giovanni “Banoy” Lopez, together with Undersecretary for Aviation and Airports Jim Sydiongco, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Deputy Director General Danjun Lucas, and Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) General Manager Jay Santiago, already met with Camiguin Rep. Jurdin Jesus “JJ” Romualdo over the planned extension of the Camiguin Airport runway.
The meeting was an offshoot of Bongbong Marcos Jr.’s directive to extend the runways of the country’s airports to accommodate bigger aircraft that could eventually reduce airfare and boost tourism in the regions.
Secretary Lopez assured Rep. Romualdo and the local government of Camiguin that they are fast-tracking site acquisition for the construction of a new 2,400-meter runway, which will be longer than the current 1,200-meter runway.
“Camiguin is so beautiful that’s why we need to improve the airport to attract more tourists and boost the economy of the province,” said Secretary Lopez, who also inspected the runway with Romualdo.
Due to its natural beauty, Camiguin province was included in the list of “52 Places to go this 2026” by The New York Times. Camiguin is the only place in the Philippines that made it to the list.
