The Davao City Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Inc. (DCCCII) is supporting the proposed law creating the Davao International Airport Authority which has been approved on second reading by the House of Representatives.
In a joint statement issued September 28, DCCCII president Arturo M. Milan and DCCCII chairman of the board Antonio T. dela Cruz said that the chamber believes that once approved, the law will “allow the airport a significant level of financial autonomy to expedite necessary improvements and upgrades in airport infrastructure and services.“
“This will harness its potential to serve the travelling public by integrating it with various modes of transport and guide its growth to meet new and higher passenger demand,” the business leaders said, adding that “this will also position Davao and Mindanao as a vital gateway destination for international tourists and travelers, particularly from adjacent ASEAN member countries.”
The creation of the airport authority has been advocated by Davao lawmakers and businesssleaders for almost three decades now, starting with the late congressman Manuel M. Garcia, a former DCCCII president, who filed the first bill in the early 90’s. This was followed through by his youngest son, Vincent, who was member of the House for nine years and by daughter Mylene Garcia-Albano, the current congresswoman of the the city’s Second District, where the Francisco Bangoy international airport is located.
The initial attempts to create an airport authority were opposed by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) arguing that the proposed authority would deprive smaller airports in Mindanao of subsidy derived from revenue of the Davao airport. This position was later abandoned by CAAP as the multi-sectoral Regional Development Council (RDC) of Region 11 joined the clamor for an authority similar to its highly successful model –the Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority.
In the explanatory note of House Bill 2002 as the “Charter of the Davao International Airport Authority,” House Deputy Speaker Albano said the authority shall principally undertake the economical, efficient and effective control, management and supervision of the Francisco Bangoy International Airport in Davao City and such other airports as may be established in any of the provinces of Davao del Sur (including Davao Occidental), Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley.
Additionally, the authority will encourage, promote and develop international and domestic air traffic in 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.
A Senate version of the bill has been filed by Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri, who also comes from Mindanao. AMA
