[2] During the incumbency of Matias C. Ranillo Sr. as Governor of Zamboanga peninsula in 1937-1941, President Manuel Quezon and his daughters Zenaida and Aurora "Baby", were invited to inaugurate the opening of the first bridge linking Dipolog to nearby Dapitan in 1939.

The 600-meter (2,000 ft) macadam airstrip was opened in October 1941, a few months before the outbreak of World War II, by then-Vice President Sergio Osmeña and Chief of Staff Basilio Valdez.

They were welcomed by Governor Matias C. Ranillo, Sr. but the entourage promptly proceeded to Dipolog Cathedral for a thanksgiving mass since the plane almost crashed at landing.

By March 8, four divisions of 16 Vought F4U Corsair US Marine fighter bombers and the 13th US Air Force established base as part of the Victor IV liberation plan.

The airport's strategic location during World War II and the liberation of Zamboanga and Mindanao by American and Philippine Commonwealth Forces in 1945 prompted the national government to develop the field as an alternate to Zamboanga International Airport principally for national security reasons arising from natural and man-made emergencies.

The airport's commercial viability for growth was established as more flights were mounted by Philippine Airlines prompting the national government to introduce further development.

[5] In 1992, after extending its runway by 500-meter (1,600 ft) and constructing a control tower, Dipolog Airport officially welcomed its first mid-size passenger jet, a Philippine Airlines Boeing 737-300.

The airport has a modern control tower, a Category V fire station with four firetrucks and a new parking area complex near the Miss Universe Garden.

The old parking area, which had a capacity of ninety vehicles, was partially converted into a security buffer zone, to address probable terrorist threats.

The city government is expanding again the parking area to accommodate the additional passenger traffic toward the vicinity of the Miss Universe Garden.

[9] Designs for rehabilitation and upgrading were undertaken by COWI-NACO JV, with three local sub-consultants: TransAsia, Basic Team and COWI Philippines.

[10] The scope of works included: As of April 2007, only items numbers one, two, five, six, and seven were not yet implemented due to huge budgetary requirements.