Media Statement
March 13, 2023
The members of the Joint Foreign Chambers of the Philippines(JFC), in support of recommendations contained in Senate Committee Report(CR)No. 39 on the Air Traffic Management System glitch at the NAIA, call on Congress to pass much-needed air transport reform legislation.
CR No. 39 recommended, among others: amendment of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) charter to strengthen CAAP as an agency and to decouple its conflicting functions as regulator, operator, and investigator; and the passage of bills creating the Philippine Transportation Safety Board(PTSB) and the Philippine Airports Authority to allow for more efficiency and transparency in the sector.
Senate and House Bills have already been filed and are pending in both chambers, with Senate Bill No. 1121 creating the PTSB sponsored for plenary approval by Sen. Poe on March 7. We urge relevant Committees in both chambers to conduct public hearing son the bills pending at the committee level and for the Senate to commence deliberation on SB No. 1121 at the soonest possible time.
The incident at the NAIA, and the disruption it caused to air transportation throughout the country, is a strong reminder of the need to pass laws to institute structural reforms in the air transport sector. The members of the JFC commend the Senate Committee on Public Services’ timely issuance of the report under the chairmanship of Senator Grace Poe and its recommendation of legislation that will align the Philippines with international standards of transportation safety and security.
The members of the JFC–with other industry associations such as the Safe Travel Alliance, Air Carriers Association of the Philippines, and the International Air Transport Association–have long advocated for these reforms and we are optimistic that with congressional, executive, and private sector support, we will finally see their enactment in the 19thCongress.
Approved by the following:
American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines
Australian-New Zealand Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines
Canadian Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines
European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines
Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Philippines, Inc.
Korean Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Inc.
Philippine Association of Multinational Companies Regional Headquarters, Inc.