Manila signs Asean protocols on aviation

by Ma. Stella F. Arnaldo 

The Philippines has finally signed protocols 5 and 6 of the 2009 Multilateral Agreement on Air Services (MAAS) that would give airlines of Asean member-states unlimited third, fourth and fifth freedom rights to operate between capital cities.

The ratification document, signed by President Aquino on Thursday, effectively opens up Manila to more foreign airlines, although BusinessMirror sources intimated that their landings would still be subject to slots available at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia), the country’s premier gateway.

While largely ceremonial in the case of the Philippines and Indonesia, whose capitals host airports virtually bursting at the seams, the signing by President Aquino of the two final protocols finally binds the country to the Asean Single Aviation Market (Asam), one of the goals in the integration of Asean into one economic community, which began this year.

In a text message from Japan, Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio A. Abaya confirmed the signing of the document and told the BusinessMirror: “This will now bring us closer to the Asam. This will allow more competitive fares for our people, more connectivity, and further bring opportunities for our people. It is important, as well, for us as a people to remain competitive. I personally believe that the Filipino, once placed in an a level playing field environment, will be able not only to compete but actually excel.”

The Department of Transportation and Communications, with support from the Department of Tourism (DOT), had long been pushing for the signing of the said protocols.

Aileen Clemente, president of the Asean Tourism Association (Aseanta), expressed joy “on behalf of Aseanta” over the signing of the ratification document. “We are confident that not only is it going to benefit the Philippines, but more so, that this is one of the landmark symbols of cooperation and push for the Asean as one region,” she said in a text message.

The Aseanta, is a nonprofit tourism association formed in 1971, which is composed of public- and private-tourism sector organizations from the Asean, such as national tourism organizations (e.g., tourism marketing boards of other countries, the Philippines’s DOT, etc.) airlines, travel associations, and hotel and restaurant associations. One of its aims is to support and help implement the Asean road map to ensure that the region remains a successful tourism destination.

During the recent Asean Tourism Forum (ATF) in Manila, hosted by the DOT, the Asean tourism ministers, with support from Aseanta, launched a new Asean Tourism Strategic Plan for 2016-2025, aimed at further promoting and marketing the region as a one single tourism destination.

Briefing reporters during the ATF, Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. spoke about the difficulty in convincing the Department of Foreign Affairs and the President to sign the ratification document: “There had to be a discussion on the difference between ‘open skies’ between Asean countries and the actual capacity in our entire airports. There is a point of view that says, ‘What’s the point in saying, ‘we’re open!’ Then when some airline asks to land, we tell them, ‘sorry, no space!’ We [had] to grapple with that issue.”

He added, “we keep pointing out that these are just protocols, not a treaty. We [were] determined to convince everyone that we can opt out of it if we really couldn’t accommodate more landings, like if the airport would be too jampacked with planes.”

Jimenez also said: “But we really had to wrap our minds or convince people that our capacity problems, as real as they are, are temporary and, therefore, they are subsidiary to the idea that the Philippines must express support for full [Asean economic] integration. And frankly, full economic integration, in many people’s view, is not possible without open skies between Asean open cities.”

Sources said the DFA was one source of delay as it wanted to revise the wording in the MAAS ratification document.

Third and fourth freedom rights allow carriers to fly from their home country to another foreign country, sans government approval. Fifth freedom rights allows any carrier to fly between two foreign countries during flights originating or ending in said airline’s home country.

Officials of flag carriers Philippine Airlines (PAL) and Cebu Pacific could not be reached for comment as of press time. But in earlier interviews, Lance Gokongwei, president of Cebu Pacific, said it “fully supports the ratification of the Asean Open Skies multilateral agreement, which allows designated Asean carriers to operate unlimited flights between capital airports.”

For its part, PAL said it was willing to compete under the Asam, but urged other Asean member-nations to privatize their flag carriers to make competition more equitable in the region.

“PAL is always able and willing to  compete with airlines in Asean and all  over the world,” PAL President Jaime Bautista said.  “In Asean  we’ve advocated a policy for each member-state to take the bold leap to privatize their flag carriers, so that their airlines can progress from state ownership and dependence to become normal business enterprises.  That would make it more fair or equitable, as the Philippines is the only Asean member-state to have made those bold moves more than two decades ago.” 

Source: www.businessmirror.com.ph