Palace finalizing EO liberalizing aviation industry
Malacañang is in the process of finalizing an executive order that would further liberalize the aviation industry to attract more foreign investments in the sector, President Arroyo said.
During an open forum at the Philippine Economic Forum in Makati City on Friday, the President also disclosed that executives of Singapore’s world-class Changi Airport have expressed interest in further upgrading the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) at the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga to make the terminal at par with the best airports in the world.
She said the Changi airport executives wanted to give an unsolicited offer to further develop the DMIA.
"I’d like to reiterate my instructions to the Clark international airport authorities and to (Trade) Secretary Peter Favila, to accept unsolicited proposals for build-operate-transfer and let us see which one will be the best," Mrs. Arroyo said.
"But what I am saying is we have enough private sector interest in Clark and that it need not be the government who will do it," she said.
She said the unsolicited offer would be the basis for a Swiss challenge for other bids to develop DMIA.
She said the Singaporeans’ interest in the development of DMIA is a clear indication that foreign investors remain bullish on the country’s economy despite the political noise generated by the political opposition and government critics.
She said the Singaporean airport officials were very impressed with the facilities of the DMIA.
The government converted the former military airstrip in Clark Field, Pampanga into an international airport to serve as an alternative to the already congested Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City.
Mrs. Arroyo said concerned Cabinet officials have recently discussed with stakeholders the details of Executive Order 500-B, which would allow foreign airlines to exercise fifth freedom rights at Clark and Subic airports.
Fifth freedom right is the right of an airline of one country to conduct business between two countries outside of its own country.
She said the EO would make it easier for foreign airlines to enter even if they are not nominated by countries with existing air deals with the Philippines.
"We had a discussion already with the Clark stakeholders here and I have asked Chief (Presidential) Legal Counsel Secretary Serge Apostol to draft an EO that will contain things we have agreed (on)," Mrs. Arroyo said.
"The liberalization, as agreed by the Clark stakeholders, would allow airlines that are not necessarily the ones nominated by the countries with which we have an air service agreement," she said.
Mrs. Arroyo issued EO 500 in 2006 grantng unilateral air rights to foreign carriers operating at the DMIA in Pampanga and the Subic Bay International Airport in Zambales. This was amended by EO 500-A that withdrew the fifth freedom and restricted the operation of budget airlines in Subic and Clark.
Local industry players earlier warned that liberalization of the aviation sector would lead to losses as foreign airlines compete with local companies. By PAOLO ROMERO - The Philippine Star
During an open forum at the Philippine Economic Forum in Makati City on Friday, the President also disclosed that executives of Singapore’s world-class Changi Airport have expressed interest in further upgrading the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) at the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga to make the terminal at par with the best airports in the world.
She said the Changi airport executives wanted to give an unsolicited offer to further develop the DMIA.
"I’d like to reiterate my instructions to the Clark international airport authorities and to (Trade) Secretary Peter Favila, to accept unsolicited proposals for build-operate-transfer and let us see which one will be the best," Mrs. Arroyo said.
"But what I am saying is we have enough private sector interest in Clark and that it need not be the government who will do it," she said.
She said the unsolicited offer would be the basis for a Swiss challenge for other bids to develop DMIA.
She said the Singaporeans’ interest in the development of DMIA is a clear indication that foreign investors remain bullish on the country’s economy despite the political noise generated by the political opposition and government critics.
She said the Singaporean airport officials were very impressed with the facilities of the DMIA.
The government converted the former military airstrip in Clark Field, Pampanga into an international airport to serve as an alternative to the already congested Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Pasay City.
Mrs. Arroyo said concerned Cabinet officials have recently discussed with stakeholders the details of Executive Order 500-B, which would allow foreign airlines to exercise fifth freedom rights at Clark and Subic airports.
Fifth freedom right is the right of an airline of one country to conduct business between two countries outside of its own country.
She said the EO would make it easier for foreign airlines to enter even if they are not nominated by countries with existing air deals with the Philippines.
"We had a discussion already with the Clark stakeholders here and I have asked Chief (Presidential) Legal Counsel Secretary Serge Apostol to draft an EO that will contain things we have agreed (on)," Mrs. Arroyo said.
"The liberalization, as agreed by the Clark stakeholders, would allow airlines that are not necessarily the ones nominated by the countries with which we have an air service agreement," she said.
Mrs. Arroyo issued EO 500 in 2006 grantng unilateral air rights to foreign carriers operating at the DMIA in Pampanga and the Subic Bay International Airport in Zambales. This was amended by EO 500-A that withdrew the fifth freedom and restricted the operation of budget airlines in Subic and Clark.
Local industry players earlier warned that liberalization of the aviation sector would lead to losses as foreign airlines compete with local companies. By PAOLO ROMERO - The Philippine Star
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