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The Joint Foreign Chambers of the Philippines is urging lawmakers to pass “much-needed” air transport reform bills pending in both houses of Congress
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The group says they support recommendations of a Senate committee related to the January 1 air traffic management system glitch at NAIA
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JFC is also pressing for the passage of bills creating the Philippine Transportation Safety Board and the Philippine Airports Authority to allow for more efficiency and transparency in the sector
Foreign businesses in the Philippines are urging lawmakers to enact “much-needed air transport reform legislation” pending in both houses of Congress that seek to reform the country’s air transport administration and enhance aviation safety.
In a statement, members of the Joint Foreign Chambers of the Philippines (JFC) said their call for passage of the air transport reform bills is in support of recommendations by Senate Committee Report No. 39 on the air traffic management system glitch at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on January 1, 2023.
Investigators said the system glitch that shut down Philippine skies to hundreds of international and domestic flights was triggered by a defective power switch in the Air Traffic Management System housed inside the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) compound at NAIA.
CR No. 39 recommended amendment of the CAAP charter to strengthen the agency and decouple its conflicting functions as regulator, operator, and investigator.
The JFC members also called for 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 are pending in both chambers. Senate Bill No. 1121 creating the PTSB was sponsored for plenary approval by Sen. Grace Poe on March 7.
“We urge relevant Committees in both chambers to conduct public hearings on the bills pending at the committee level and for the Senate to commence deliberation on SB No. 1121 at the soonest possible time,” the JFC members said.
“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 statement said.
JFC members, along 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, the statement said.
“We are optimistic that with congressional, executive, and private sector support, we will finally see their enactment in the 19th Congress,” the JFC members said.
JFC comprises the 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. and Philippine Association of Multinational Companies Regional Headquarters Inc.
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