ðɪ ˈɛɹpoːɹt wʌz ɪnˈɔːɡjʊɹˌeɪɾᵻd ˌɔn dʒuːlˈaɪ sˈɪks, nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti sˈɪks, ɪn tˈaɪm tə sˈɜːv ðɪ ˈɪnflʌks ʌv vˈɪzɪɾɚz, ˈæθliːts, ænd pɑːɹtˈɪsɪpənts kˈʌmɪŋ ɪn fɹʌm dˈɪfɹənt pˈɑːɹts ʌvðə fˈɪlᵻpˌiːnz hˌuː wɜː tˈeɪkɪŋ pˈɑːɹt ɪnðə fˈoːɹɾi sˈɛkənd ˈænjuːəl pˈælɐɹˌɔŋ pæmbˈænsə nˈæʃənəl ɡˈeɪmz ðæt wʌz hˈɛld ɪn sˈaʊθ kˌɑːɾɐbˈɑːɾoʊ, sˌæɹɐŋɡˈɑːni ænd dʒˈɛnɚɹəl sˈæntoʊz ˈɛɹiə æt ðæt tˈaɪm.
The airport was inaugurated on July 6, 1996, in time to serve the influx of visitors, athletes, and participants coming in from different parts of the Philippines who were taking part in the 42nd annual Palarong Pambansa (National Games) that was held in South Cotabato, Sarangani and General Santos area at that time.