The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, which claims 2019 was a challenging year, says it has strove to improve the country’s aviation sector since becoming an independent regulatory body in 2008.
But under the leadership of Director General Jim Sydiongco with the support from the Department of Transportation, the Authority said it was able to accomplish several projects and initiatives last year, thus improving the country’s aviation system, and steadily fulfilling its vision of Filipinos having convenient access to air transport and a developed Philippines supported by aviation.
The accomplishments include the development of other gateways in the country, particularly the Sangley Airport in Cavite, to help decongest the Ninoy Aquino International Airport of air traffic.
CAAP also helped in improving the airlines’ On-Time Performance in close coordination with the Department of Tourism, Manila International Airport Authority and five major airlines in the country-Cebu Pacific Air, Philippine Airlines, AirAsia, PAL Express, and CebGo.
Consequently, in support of the ICAO’s (International Civil Aviation Organization) New Generation of Aviation Professionals (NGAP) initiative, the CAAP has been working towards ensuring that there are enough qualified and competent professionals that will maintain the future of the country’s air transportation system.
“That is why this year, CAAP launched applications for its Comprehensive Air Traffic Service Course batch 15 (CATS 15), Communication Navigation Surveillance System Officer’s Course batch 42 (CNSSO 42), and Airfield Lighting and Power Technician’s Course batch 12 (ALPT 12), aiming to attract and encourage aspiring Air Traffic Management Officers (ATMOs), Air Navigation Officers and Technicians that will continue managing and leading the country’s aviation sector and maintaining the safety of our airspace for the future,” said CAAP chief information officer and spokesperson Eric Apolonio.
To standardize and streamline its processes, CAAP also underwent a series of activities for the development of its quality management system to comply with ISO 9001:2015 standards.
With the help of the Development Academy of the Philippines, the Authority is receiving guidance in the adaptation of relevant ISO management systems and standards.
“These activities will integrate relevant provisions of pertinent laws and or rules and regulations that will help CAAP develop a culture of quality and integrity in governance that is characterized by citizen-focused and well-performing government organizations,” said Apolonio.
In addition to ensuring that the Authority’s processes, services, and products are of high quality, the ISO certification will also provide customers and stakeholders the assurance that CAAP’s services will be delivered on schedule and with fewer errors.
“Through the initiative, the CAAP hopes to embody the vision of its officials and employees, while also upholding the discipline of the agency,” added Apolonio.
Aside from fulfilling its commitment to aviation safety, CAAP initiated to construct gender-neutral restrooms in various airports nationwide, a step towards gender awareness development (GAD) and protection of the rights of the LGBTQ+ community.
Among the latest facilities with gender-neutral restrooms were airports in Basco, Marinduque, Virac, Bacolod, Roxas, and Butuan.
Aside from these communal restrooms, diaper-changing and breastfeeding rooms are also being maintained to assist nursing mothers better.
In the following years, CAAP is targeting working further towards a more gender-inclusive environment in all of the 42 commercial airports it operates. In order to eradicate and minimize all forms of discrimination in all its areas and airports, the Authority will continue to set its standards to accommodate the LGBTQ+ community within and outside the agency.
Apolonio said another project spearheaded by Transportation secretary Arthur Tugade aimed to show appreciation for passengers was the distribution of Malasakit Help Kits during special occasions and holidays.
“Through the sharing of these tokens of gratitude, CAAP hopes to make passengers’ travel more convenient and comfortable,” he said.
Also in 2019, CAAP for the second consecutive year has been recognized as one of the Top Performing and Requested Agency at the Freedom of Information (FOI) Awards.