Indigenous families displaced by Bukidnon airport protest unmet relocation promises

Construction of a new airport in Don Carlos, Bukidnon, is proceeding with a budget of over P3 billion and an expected 2027 opening. The development displaced roughly 113 Indigenous families, who were moved to a relocation area in Barangay Maray-Maray and compensated with P320,000 per hectare plus a one-time P25,000 subsidy. Many households now lack basic utilities; water must be fetched from distant sources and electricity lines remain unconnected despite officials saying power is available.

The move also separated families from their agricultural lands, forcing some to seek construction work. Local authorities cite a pending water reservoir and cash assistance, while the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples confirms the airport lies within an ancestral domain, prompting calls for a proper FPIC process. Community members stress the impact on children’s schooling and the need for a permanent daycare facility.