Business groups are pushing for amendments in the Civil Aviation Authority Act.
After the House Committee on Transportation last March approved House Bill (HB) 8700 amending the law which created the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), the Joint Foreign Chambers and Philippine business groups recommended that the Senate file a counterpart measure and initiate hearings on the reform with a view to approving it by the end of 2021.
HB 8700 seeks to strengthen CAAP as the agency in charge of safety. It will enable CAAP to focus on its role as regulator and overseer of safety by removing its
conflicting and multiple functions as operator and investigator.
The business groups believe HB 8700 addresses remaining critical elements in the supervision and management of the Philippine aviation sector and provides CAAP with sufficient power and authority to resolve deficiencies in the sector.
Additionally, amendments to Republic Act 9497, or the Civil Aviation Authority Act of 2008, will sustain efforts initiated by CAAP in upgrading the status of Philippine aviation so that it may gain the trust of international bodies monitoring and accrediting aviation quality throughout the world.
The grave impact of COVID-19 on the Philippine aviation industry is one of many challenges requiring a highly competent CAAP more focused on a streamlined mandate in order to assist the industry to recover when the pandemic ends, according to the business groups.
The CAAP bill amendments is one of the priority measures recommended by the business groups to recover from the negative gross domestic product brought about by the pandemic.
House Speaker Allan Velasco is supporting the passage of such reforms that improve the country’s business and investment climate.
Other industry associations — including the Safe Travel Alliance, Air Carriers Association of the Philippines and the International Air Transport Association — also manifested their support and recommended the amendments.
