VZCZCXYZ5814
OO RUEHWEB
DE RUEHML #0548 0640956
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 040956Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY MANILA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9985
INFO RULSDMK/DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEANHA/FAA WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO IMMEDIATE 3492
RUEHZU/APEC COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS MANILA 000548
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/MTS AND EB/TRA/OTP
TOKYO FOR FAA
SENSITIVE, SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAIR ECON RP
SUBJECT: Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines
REF: Manila 202
1. (SBU) Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed into
law on March 4 a bill creating the Civil Aviation Authority of the
Philippines (CAAP). This is the first bill passed by the 14th
Congress, reflecting the importance the Arroyo Administration
attaches to improving civil aviation safety oversight and regaining
a good safety rating (reftel). However, there has been no decision
on who will head the new agency or on hiring consultants to assist
in regaining Category 1. Embassy representatives joined lawmakers,
industry, and aviation officials attending the signing ceremony and
urged further prompt remedial action.
2. (SBU) The Federal Aviation Administration officially downgraded
Philippine civil aviation oversight in January 2008 from Category 1
to Category 2 due to its failure to implement safety standards set
by the International Civil Aviation Organization, as reported
reftel. The creation of a CAAP is a significant step forward
towards improving oversight since it has many powers that the old
Air Transportation Office lacked and such can retain airport fees
and pay higher salaries to its employees.
3. (SBU) During the signing ceremony, President Arroyo said that
implementing rules and regulations for the CAAP would be completed
in one month and it would officially take over the oversight
function in May. She added that the Philippines could invite the
Federal Aviation Administration to re-examine the safety situation
as early as June.
4. (SBU) No announcement was made of who would head the CAAP, and
there were different views among the attendees on the procedures and
timing of such an appointment. There were also different views on
the hiring of a consultant to assist with the process of regaining a
good safety rating. Some officials told us that the yet
unidentified head of the CAAP would make the decision on which
consultant to hire.
5. (SBU) We urged officials to move forward as quickly as possible
with their decision on hiring a consultant and urged airline and
industry representatives to work together in assisting in drafting
proposed implementing rules and regulations for the CAAP.
KENNEY