The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the European Union are currently working together to advance the country's transport mobility.
In a bilateral meeting at the sidelines of the 28th ASEAN Transport Ministers Meeting (STOM), DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista and the European Union’s Director General for Mobility and Transport (DG MOVE) Henrik Hololei discussed programs to make the Philippines' transport system accessible, affordable, and comfortable.
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For the aviation and airports sector, the two parties discussed ongoing projects and how to make the country’s air mobility innovative.
They also talked of their partnership in enhancing and modernizing the country’s air traffic management system.
For the maritime sector, they are tackling collaborative measures to
implement the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) more effectively.
They are likewise threshing out the steps needed to resolve STCW issues and update programs for the welfare of Filipino seafarers.
Furthermore, the parties are looking at several projects to modernize the country’s road-based transport system.
In addition, the EU Delegation expressed appreciation of the Philippine government’s cooperation in negotiations for the ASEAN-EU Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement (AE CATA).
The AE CATA is the world’s first bloc-to-bloc air transport agreement to boost connectivity and economic development among the 37 member states of ASEAN, including the Philippines, and the EU.
Under the agreement, the airlines of the ASEAN and the EU can have greater opportunities to operate passenger and cargo services between and even beyond both regions.