The expansion of the passenger terminal building at the Davao International Airport is expected to be finished by December 2026, according to the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

The P650-million project will expand the terminal’s floor area to 25,910 square meters from 17,500 square meters.

Once completed, the terminal will be able to accommodate an additional 700 passengers from the current 1,500.

It will also provide more spaces for concessionaires and is expected to generate more than 4,000 jobs.

“We will really work hard to improve the Davao Airport because it has a desperate need of improvement,” DOTr Secretary Vince Dizon said during his recent visit at the project site.

DOTr said there are interested parties looking to bid for the planned privatization of the airpot, although the department has yet to finalize details.

“Merong interested parties… hindi pa final. It’s very exciting not just for Davao but for the entire Mindanao because Davao International airport is the hub of Mindanao,” Dizon said.

It can be recalled that former DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista announced in October 2024 plans to privatize the airport through a partnership agreement with the International Finance Group. The move aims to modernize and improve airport operations.