By Charissa M. Luci-Atienza
The technical working group (TWG) of the House Committee on Government Enterprises and House Committee on Transportation is readying the substitute bill seeking the creation of an airport management that would ensure and accelerate the development of air transport facilities and services in the country.
The TWG, headed by Bohol Rep. Rene Relampagos "agreed to draft a substitute bill" to House Bills 6327 and 7306, filed by Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel and Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, respectively. The substitute bill is set to be presented to the mother committee for its consideration and approval.
(Ali Vicoy / MANILA BULLETIN)
The panel adopted Speaker's HB 7306 as the working draft.
House Bill 7306, the proposed “Philippine Airport Development Corporation Act”, aims to create the Philippine Airport Development Corporation (PADC) that will undertake all manner of business and development projects for the establishment of a reliable and more efficient airport industry, especially the construction, maintenance and operation of airports all over the country.
Relampagos said the TWG recommended to specify that PADC's functions and powers "will not include the control, supervision, maintenance, and operation of air traffic facilities and navigation engineering."
He also noted that they adopted Sections 6 and 8 of HB 6327, the “Philippine Airports Management Authority Act” on Police Authority and the Board of Directors, respectively.
He said the TWG will also add a transitory provision seeking the establishment of a body to oversee the transition period and the transfer of properties.
HB 7306 seeks to abolish the authorities managing international airports, namely the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC), Subic Bay Metropolitan Department Airport Department, and the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA).
Various government agencies rallied behind the passage of the bill. These include Governance Commission for Government-owned and Controlled Corporations (GCG), Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and Export Development Council (EDC).
Airline companies like Philippine Airlines (PAL) and Cebu Pacific also expressed support for the bill.