THE Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (DCCCII) is supporting the proposal of Davao City Representative Mylene Garcia-Albano in creating the Davao International Airport Authority (DIAA).
In a letter addressed to Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte, DCCCII president Arch. Daniel Lim said the proposed creation of the DIAA, crafted through House Bill (HB) 6993, will help boost the city's economy.
"The DCCCII sternly believes that the realization of this will spur economic growth not only for Davao City, but of the surrounding provinces in Mindanao," Lim said in his letter dated July 26.
HB 6693, proposed by Garcia, recognizes that the creation of DIAA will "substantially contribute to the quest of the region to emerge as the premier socio-economic tourism center not only in the Philippines but also in the Asia-Pacific Region."
"With the current adoption of the open sky policy of the Aquino administration, it is the best time to enhance the quality of services and competitiveness of FBIA by creating a body that will principally undertake the control, management and supervision of the FBIA, and such other airports that may be established in Davao City and the provinces of Davao," the explanatory note of the HB 6993 read.
Meanwhile, a DCCCII resolution supporting the proposed bill read that with the recent runway mishap at Francisco Bangoy International Airport, the airport needs to uplift its name and designation as a world-class international airport.
"There is a need to harmonize and actualize the potential and the capacity of the airport, so that it can truly be called an international airport; and the board believes that an independent government-owned and controlled corporation that is directly attached as an agency of the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) shall be the most efficient vehicle and instrument for this purpose," the DCCCII resolution read.
The National Economic Development Authority (Neda) in Davao has also expressed support to the immediate passage of the HB 6993.
Neda-Davao, secretariat to the Regional Development Council (RDC), said establishing the DIAA would affect to a more efficient and competitive administration and management of the Davao International Airport (DIA).
Acting RDC-Davao secretary Miguel Herrera said strengthening the role of DIA as the transportation and logistics hub in Mindanao has also been espoused in the current development and physical framework plans of the Davao Region.
Meanwhile, the DCCCII requested the City Council to pass a resolution supporting the initiative of the chamber. (ANC)