Reimagining Old Airports for Economic Growth

Airports, by their very nature, are built with vast tracts of land, extensive infrastructure, and prime locations near urban centers. When they are replaced by newer facilities, the old airstrips are often left idle or underutilized—wasted opportunities in cities that urgently need new growth corridors. Around the world, progressive governments have reimagined old airports as thriving economic zones, blending business, culture, and technology. In the Philippines, this conversation is long overdue, and nowhere is the potential greater than in General Santos City with its old Buayan Airport.

The example of Iloilo is particularly instructive. After the opening of a new airport in Cabatuan in 2007, the old Mandurriao airport was redeveloped into Iloilo Business Park, now a booming commercial and financial hub. The transformation did not only generate thousands of jobs but also attracted global investors, expanded tourism, and spurred allied industries from retail to real estate. What was once an abandoned runway became a magnet for innovation and prosperity.

General Santos City’s Buayan Airport, decommissioned in 1996, shares the same potential. Sitting in a strategic location with access to major roads and surrounded by communities hungry for economic activity, the site can serve as the city’s next frontier for growth. But to do so, leaders must act decisively, strategically, and with a long-term vision.

Imagine Buayan Airport reimagined as a special economic zone. Part of it could become an IT hub, drawing in call centers, business process outsourcing firms, and even emerging startups in fintech and digital health. This could absorb the city’s young, tech-savvy workforce and reduce the outmigration of talent to Metro Manila or abroad. Another section could be transformed into an agri-fishery industrial complex, where General Santos’ tuna industry and Mindanao’s agricultural wealth converge with technology-driven processing, packaging, and export facilities. This would boost value-added industries, creating jobs far beyond the fish port.

The city could also explore mixed-use developments, blending commercial establishments, residential zones, and cultural spaces that reflect the identity of Soccsksargen. With careful planning, the site can host green spaces, transport hubs, and modern logistics centers to complement the existing General Santos International Airport.

Of course, such transformation is not without challenges. Land use conflicts may arise, especially with informal settlers or vested interests. Infrastructure investment will be costly, requiring public-private partnerships with credible investors. Regulatory clarity and transparent governance must be ensured to avoid mismanagement or corruption, which could undermine the project’s credibility. But these challenges are surmountable with strong leadership and stakeholder engagement.

To move forward, the city government of General Santos must first commission a master plan for the Buayan Airport site, ideally in partnership with NEDA, PEZA, and private developers. This master plan should outline zoning, infrastructure needs, environmental safeguards, and investment priorities. Second, the city should lobby for special legislation that would declare Buayan a special economic and innovation precinct, making it eligible for tax incentives and national funding. Third, a multi-stakeholder council involving local business chambers, academic institutions, civil society, and community leaders must be formed to ensure inclusivity and accountability.

Beyond economics, reimagining Buayan Airport is also about symbolism. It is about a city choosing to embrace its history while boldly stepping into the future. It is about turning an idle runway into a launching pad for new opportunities. It is about telling the next generation of generals—students, entrepreneurs, workers—that their city has the imagination and courage to reinvent itself.

The Philippines has seen far too many missed opportunities due to indecision and shortsightedness. General Santos has a chance to do better. If Iloilo could turn a deserted airport into a gleaming symbol of progress, then General Santos can too. The Buayan Airport project can be the city’s defining legacy—unlocking enormous gains for Mindanao, contributing to national growth, and proving once again that with vision, even old runways can lead to new horizons.