Mendoza, one of the guests during the celebration of the province’s 92nd foundation anniversary last Friday, said that the construction of the airstrip in M’lang town in North Cotabato would be completed in December. The roadwork started on June 14 this year.
North Cotabato is becoming a top producer of banana, rubber, and oil palm in Southwestern Mindanao.
Next week, Governor Emmanuel Piñol will go to China to look for potential buyers or markets for the leading agricultural products of the province, banana in particular.
“The local government here is expanding the business to other countries in Asia, including China,” said Mendoza.
The local government unit has sought additional funding from the national government for the expansion and lengthening of the airstrip of the M’lang rural airport, according to the DOTC Secretary.
The DOTC has released an initial funding of P38 million for the project. But due to some budgetary constraints, it would not be available this year.
“We’re using the reenacted budget, so we have to wait for next year,” he said adding, “the construction of the airport in North Cotabato is included in President Arroyo’s thrust to develop the countryside.”
The province’s major agricultural products include rubber, banana, oil palm, exotic fruits, corn, and palay. (Malu Cadelina Manar/MindaNews)