Lawmakers urge PH air panels: Boost CRK air traffic rights
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Two members of the House of Representatives are urging Philippine air panels to intensify its offer and promotion of air traffic rights to and from the Clark International Airport (CRK).
Representatives Joseller "Yeng" Guiao (Pampanga, 1st district) and Cesar Sarmiento (Catanduanes, lone district) have filed Resolution 1753 urging "the Philippine Air Negotiating Panel, through the Secretary of Foreign Affairs as its Chairman, and the Philippine Air Consultation Panel, through the Secretary of Transportation and Communications as its Chairman, to immediately set up the necessary parameters and lay down the corresponding timetable on the promotion of air traffic rights in Clark International Airport, in line with its mandate to intensely pursue the country's international civil aviation liberalization policy."
The two lawmakers are also recommending the inclusion of representatives from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, the Manila International Airport Authority, the Clark International Airport Corporation and the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority in air negotiation and consultation talks, either as regular members or observers, in order that proper coordination will be ensured and factual guidance will be given on, among others, the available air traffic capacities of the country's airports.
Guiao and Sarmiento noted in the resolution that the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) is currently severely congested, with many of its daily domestic and international flights experiencing delays either in landing or take-off and undermines the safety and convenience of the riding public and adversely affects the efforts of the government to promote international and domestic tourism, to develop a reliable and cost-effective air transportation network and to minimize air pollution in Metro Manila.
"Some proposals being considered to address such congestion include the construction of a parallel runway in NAIA and the upgrading of Sangley Airport in Cavite into an alternative international gateway, but unlike the foregoing proposals, which would take several years to realize, the Clark International Airport is presently designed to serve at least 4,500,000 passengers annually and to be the best in logistics and services, with more upgrades in the pipeline such as the construction of a terminal building for budget carriers," the authors said.
Guiao and Sarmiento further said that during the recent meetings conducted by the Committee on Transportation with the Clark International Airport Corporation and other stakeholders, it was found out that there is still a big need to intensify the promotion of the Clark International Airport, particularly in attracting major airlines and the millions of potential passengers in its catchment area.
“The Philippine Air Negotiating Panel and the Philippine Air Consultation Panel are constituted pursuant to Executive Order No. 28, s. 2011, to conduct the initial negotiations leading to the conclusions of Air Services Agreements (ASA’s) and to undertake the succeeding negotiations of ASAs or similar agreements, respectively. Executive Order No. 29, series of 2011 provides for a more pro-active option by which to attract operators and improve air services, in that the two Philippine Air Panels are authorized to aggressively pursue the country’s international civil aviation liberalization policy by offering third, fourth and fifth freedom rights to our airports other than NAIA without restriction as to frequency, capacity, type of aircraft and other arrangements that will serve the national interest,” they said in the resolution.
Guaio and Sarmiento added that "despite the pressing need to promote the Clark International Airport as a major international gateway to complement the NAIA gateway in furtherance of a 'dual airport policy' in Luzon, it is not clear if the Philippine Air Panels have prioritized the same in air negotiation and consultation talks." (JTD)