THE Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) said the Philippine air panel will meet its counterpart in Myanmar by the third week of October to discuss the renewal of the existing air service agreement (ASA) after the original schedule was cancelled in April.
CAB Economic Planning and Research chief Porvenir P. Porciuncula said the air negotiations are part of the plan to strengthen cooperation among member countries of the Association of South East sian Nations (ASEAN).
“The aim is to update the bilateral agreements between the ASEAN countries to facilitate trade and stronger ties,” he noted.
Porciuncula said aside from Myanmar, talks with other member states are also eyed, including Nepal, Turkmenistan, Cambodia and Laos.
Earlier, CAB came up with a new set of ASA, which aims to improve privileges and entitlements with Myanmar.
“We have to update some of the entitlements to meet the terms of certain provisions set in the International Civil Aviation Organization such as the policies on multiple designations,” Porciuncula said.
He disclosed the CAB, through the Philippine air panel, will request for additional destinations since Philippine-flagged carriers are currently enjoying limited rights to one specific destination. “At present, we are only allowed to fly Yangon,” he noted.
Porciuncula expressed optimism that Myanmar will grant the request since the country is heavily promoting historical and tourist sites.
In turn, the Philippines will offer additional service destinations to the country’s prime cities including Cebu, Davao and Subic.
Porciuncula said the Philippines may also have a separate cargo entitlement agreement with Myanmar.
“We are not yet done with the specific requirements from the airlines. We are yet to study the benefits that we can get from [Myanmar] in terms of cargo capacity,” he pointed out
However, Porciuncula noted the CAB will integrate in the potential ASA the promotion of Clark and Subic in view of the existing open skies for cargo policy in these areas.
“We have to prepare in case the cargo trade between Philippines and Myanmar suddenly takes off so we can have easy connections,” he said.
