Manila, Feb. 17 -- The Mati Airport development project has received an additional PHP700 million for its runway and site development, a lawmaker announced Monday.

Davao Oriental 2nd District Representative Cheeno Miguel Almario said during a press briefing that PHP300 million will be used for runway development and PHP400 million for site development.

Almario said the rehabilitation is the first step toward developing an international airport.

"PHP400 million for a terminal does many things for basic operations," he said. "Improving it to international airport status would require a bigger budget."

The funding came from the 2025 General Appropriations Act, Almario said.

"Amidst the confusion of the GAA, we secured it through constan...