TURNOVER. CAAP acting Director-General Capt. Manuel Antonio Tamayo, DOTr Undersecretary for Aviation and Airports Roberto Lim, MOTC Minister Dickson Hermoso, and MOTC Deputy Minister Abunawas Maslamama show the MOA that decrees the turnover of airports in the Bangsamoro to the BARMM government. (Photo from Bangsamoro Information Office)
COTABATO CITY — Management of all airports across the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has been turned over to the regional government’s Ministry of Transportation and Communication (MOTC).
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), an agency under the Department of Transportation (DOTr), transferred its powers and functions to MOTC’s Bangsamoro Airport Authority (BAA) through a Memorandum of Agreement signed on Wednesday afternoon at the Awang Airport in Datu Odin Sinsuat town, Maguindanao.
In the agreement, the CAAP will ultimately transfer to BAA all the properties, assets, powers, and functions regarding the landside management of the airports in Cotabato (Awang), Sanga-Sanga in Tawi-tawi, Jolo in Sulu, and Mapun also in Tawi-Tawi, which are all operational.
Also turned over were the non-operational ones in Malabang and Wao in Lanao del Sur.
CAAP also transferred the management of the airport structure and facilities in the “landside operations” to BAA.
The “landside” portion of airport management includes the passenger terminal building, administrative building, vehicular parking area, and other facilities or areas that are not restricted and not part of air navigational aids and facilities.
In the agreement, CAAP will retain airside operational control and consequently of runways, taxiways, and ramps, airport control tower, power plant, and flight service station building, including the air traffic administration building, aircraft rescue, and firefighting, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and air navigation equipment and facilities.
Capt. Manuel Antonio Tamayo, CAAP acting director-general, DOTr Undersecretary for Aviation and Airports Roberto Lim, MOTC Minister Dickson Hermoso, and MOTC Deputy Minister Abunawas Maslamama were present during the signing ceremony.
“With this turnover comes great responsibilities for the BAA and MOTC,” Hermoso said.
“We commit, of course, to fulfill these responsibilities to the best we could, but we would still need guidance and assistance from our bigger and older siblings, the DOTr and CAAP,” he added.
The CAAP will provide technical assistance to BAA through training, seminars, and other activities that will enhance the capacity of the latter to perform its functions.
According to CAAP lawyer Mark Nester Mendoza, the agency will still provide financial support for the airports’ maintenance and operation until the end of the year.
Mendoza said the CAAP will still look over the compliance of BAA with international rules and regulations governing airport operations.
He said CAAP trusts BAA to continue good service and provide convenient, safe, and secure air flights to the Bangsamoro people.