The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has reported that the country is making progress in achieving and maintaining an effective implementation score of over 75 percent in a safety audit.
The Philippines has improved its effective implementation score in the latest audit conducted by the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP).
During the 59th Directors General Civil Aviation (DGCA) Conference held in Cebu, CAAP Director General Manuel Antonio Tamayo stated, “In line with this commitment, we are on track to achieve and maintain a USOAP Effective Implementation score higher than 75% in the upcoming audit in March 2025.”
The USOAP is a program by which ICAO monitors member states’ fulfillment of safety oversight obligations. It evaluates safety oversight measures, resources, and compliance with ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices, as well as associated procedures, guidance material, and safety-related practices.
This year, the Philippines is hosting the 59th DGCA conference, which brings together government officials, airline executives, aviation infrastructure developers, and safety experts to discuss policy, conceptual issues, and global trends in sustaining aviation growth in the Asia-Pacific region.
Over 400 participants, including foreign delegates, international organizations, and government officials, attended the five-day conference, which began on October 14.
Notable attendees included Salvatore Sciacchitano, ICAO President of the Council, Department of Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, and Undersecretary Robert Lim.
Tamayo emphasized the importance of aligning with ICAO and active participation in conferences to ensure that CAAP’s standards are at par with international standards. He also highlighted the significance of collaboration and assistance from international organizations in preparing for the upcoming ICAO audit.
“The most important as far as the CAAP is concerned is for us to be aligned with ICAO that’s why we are actively participating now in joining conferences so our standard is at par,” said Tamayo.
“The trust of ICAO is connectivity and collaboration. We are pulling behind by being active in this. So we have an ICAO audit this coming first quarter. Now we need the assistance, not only of ICAO but other international organizations and most of them are here,” he added.
The USOAP was launched in January 1999 in response to global concerns about aviation safety oversight. As of January 1, 2024, ICAO has conducted USOAP activities in 187 Member States.
Meanwhile, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista underscored the significance of the conference as a crucial platform for addressing carbon emissions in aviation and advancing the development of the country’s aviation industry.
“Safety will be discussed which is always a major topic. As for sustainability, we will look at what are the practices that will allow us to contribute to the reduction of carbon emissions, including the best practices in the industry. Another areas to be discussed is capacity building—how to increase the capability of the Directors General. Because the development needs to be continuous,” he said.
