MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte has signed a law creating the Davao International Airport Authority (DIAA) to help spur air travel to his home region.

The DIAA shall manage and upgrade the Francisco Bangoy International Airport on the eastern side of Mindanao, one of the country's busiest air terminals, according to Republic Act 11457 that Duterte signed last August 30.

The law mandated DIAA to promote air traffic in Davao "as a means of making the region a center of international trade and tourism, and accelerating the development of the means of transportation and communication in the country."

The body was also given powers to "exercise all powers of a corporation"; lease, sell or buy land for the airport; collect fees for the use of its premises; and invest idle funds, among others.

BASAHIN: Pang. Rodrigo Duterte, pinirmahan ang panukalang batas na nagtatatag sa Davao International Airport Authority | via @joycebalancio pic.twitter.com/SDnlfssxvq

— DZMM TeleRadyo (@DZMMTeleRadyo) September 10, 2019

The Davao airport hosts direct flights to Singapore and received in 2016 the first flight from China's Xiamen Air.

Similar corporate bodies, the Manila International Airport Authority and the Clark International Airport Corp., manage major airports on Luzon Island.