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PRESIDENT Arroyo has ordered Budget Secretary Rolando
Andaya Jr. to release P110 million to upgrade the
facilities and services of the Air Transportation Office
(ATO) and hasten the restoration of the country’s
aviation system to Category 1.
Deputy
presidential spokesman Lorelei Fajardo said the
President issued the directive at the joint National
Economic and Development Authority (Neda)-National
Antipoverty Commission (NAPC) meeting in Malacañang.
Part of
the funding would be spent on the further training of
ATO staff for the next six months.
The
President earlier ordered Transportation Secretary
Leandro Mendoza, whom she recently appointed as
concurrent ATO chief, to upgrade the ATOs facilities,
services and operations within three months.
“This
effort . . . is aimed at improving ATO’s regulatory
functions focused on strictly implementing aviation
regulations, upgrading its technical guidance systems,
employment of highly qualified technical personnel,
licensing and certification, surveillance and the proper
resolution of safety issues,” said Fajardo.
Such
improvements, together with the passage of a bill
creating the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), are
expected to help restore the Philippines’s rating to
Category 1.
The US
Federal Aviation Authority had lowered the rating to
Category 2, citing the country’s failure to comply with
International Civil Aviation Office (Icao) standards.
The
downgrade is expected to hurt local carriers with
expansion plans, as well as the tourism industry. |
