The 20th Sangguniang Panlungsod on Tuesday approved a resolution urging Department of Transportation Secretary Jaime J. Bautista to expedite the turnover of the Davao International Airport (DIA) from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines to the Davao International Airport Authority (DIAA).
The body approved the resolution proposed by Councilor Bernard Al-ag after he confirmed from CAAP General Manager Engr. Rex A. Obcena that the terminal fees collected at the airport are directly remitted to the CAAP national office and the Php121 million fund for 2024 has yet to be downloaded.
“We are currently exerting efforts to have these funds downloaded,” Obcena said, adding that the fund is for comfort room repairs and for the hiring of manpower for cleaning services, establishment of gender-neutral comfort rooms, and provision for additional air conditioners, among others.
Obcena, who appeared during the SP session to shed light on issues arising at the local international airport, said that as the funds are under the hands of the central office they do not have an “elbow room” for its use. They only receive enough funds for Personal services, MOOE, and Capital Outlay from CAAP.
Al-ag said that convening the Davao International Airport Authority is instrumental in the speedy download of these funds, highlighting that ‘passengers should not suffer” as he cited the huge income generated through terminal fees with Php687 million remitted to the national office in 2019 alone.
During the hearing, Al-ag urged the national government to expedite the appointment of the representatives of the private sector, as it is a requirement for the turnover of the DIA to the DIAA.
Based on R.A 11457, the corporate powers of the Authority shall be exercised by and vested in the Board of Directors, which shall be composed of a Chairman, a Vice-Chairman, and thirteen (13) members. The Secretary of the DOTr and the General Manager of the DIAA shall be the ex officio Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Board, respectively.
In addition, seven (7) members from the private sector who are residents of the provinces and cities of the Davao Region shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines for a term of one (1) year, subject to the existing rules and regulations of the Governance Commission on Government-Owned or Controlled Corporations (GCG). Two (2) of the seven (7) private sector members shall come from the City of Davao. Davao del Sur, Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, Davao Occidental and Compostela Valley shall have one (1) representative each.
Republic Act No. 11457, which was approved on August 30, 2019, is an “An Act Creating the Davao International Airport Authority, Transferring Existing Assets of Francisco Bangoy International Airport to the Authority, Vesting the Authority with Power to Administer and Operate the Francisco Bangoy International Airport and Appropriating Funds Therefor”
The Authority shall principally undertake the economical, efficient, and effective control, management, and supervision of the Francisco Bangoy International Airport in Davao City, the existing airports in the Davao Region, and such other airports as may thereafter be established in any of the provinces of the same region.
Among the objectives of the Authority is to encourage, promote, and develop international and domestic air traffic in the Davao Region as a means of making the region a center of international trade and tourism, and accelerating the development of the means of transportation and communications in the country; upgrade the services and facilities of the Francisco Bangoy International Airport and formulate internationally acceptable standards of airport accommodation and service. CIO
