Lorenz S. Marasigan
May 28, 2024
The Joint Foreign Chambers (JFC) called on legislators on Monday to approve critical bills aimed at overhauling the governance framework of the country’s airports.
According to the JFC, there are three urgent reforms that will enhance the safety, efficiency, and quality of domestic and international airports across the country.
These three legislative reforms are the following: amendments to the Civil Aviation Authority Act of the Philippines (Caap) Law; the creation of the Philippine Airports Authority; and the establishment of the Philippine Transportation Safety Board.
“These reforms are essential to enhancing the safety, efficiency, and overall quality of both domestic and international airports in the Philippines,” the JFC said in its letter to the Philippine Senate.
The proposed amendments to the Caap Law aim to bolster the agency’s role in safety oversight by improving human resource development, strengthening the board, and aligning with global safety standards.
The creation of the Philippine Airports Authority is intended to resolve the conflicting roles of Caap as both an airport regulator and operator, thereby improving operational efficiency.
Lastly, the formation of the Philippine Transportation Safety Board would enhance the government’s capacity to investigate accidents and bolster overall transportation safety.
According to the JFC, the government should prioritize these legislative reforms, citing the recent events at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia), where numerous flights were delayed due to a technical issue with the navigational air traffic management system.
This incident—along with other unfortunate events at the Naia such as power interruptions, congestion, and even sanitary issues—has underscored the need for robust regulatory and operational frameworks to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
The JFC, representing over 3,000 member companies and over US$100 billion in trade and $30 billion in investments in the Philippines, stressed that these reforms would significantly benefit the country’s aviation sector.
The coalition includes the American, Australian-New Zealand, Canadian, European, Japanese, and Korean chambers, as well as Pamuri.
“The JFC supports and promotes open international trade, increased foreign investment, and improved conditions for business to benefit both the Philippines and the countries we represent,” the JFC said.
Source: https://businessmirror.com.ph/2024/05/28/jfc-pitches-bills-overhauling-airports-policy-framework/