By NNN-PNA,
Panglao, Bohol (Philippines) : Member-countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is expected to sign a multilateral air agreement among themselves together with China, India, Japan and Korea in December this year, Philippines Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Secretary Leandro Mendoza said.
Mendoza, together with Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) General Manager Alfonso Cusi, was interviewed Monday night by Malacanang-based reporters at the Bohol Beach Club on the eve of the arrival to the province of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to groundbreak the proposed Panglao International Airport and preside over the Cabinet meeting here.
Mendoza said the Philippines and other ASEAN countries have agreed in principle to liberalize their skies with the possible signing of a “common air agreement” in December this year.
Mendoza said ASEAN countries have also discussed with China, India, Japan and Korea the possibility of their joining in the regional air services grouping.
Cusi said ASEAN’s adoption of an open skies policy would ultimately lead to the creation of a single aviation market in the region by 2015, wherein the Philippines needs to further develop its air transport policy as well as upgrade existing facilities.
Mendoza and Cusi said that member-countries that include Malaysia and Thailand have already been developing airports with multiple runways to accommodate bigger traffic while the Philippines still has to develop one.
The two said one of the best options is to develop Clark International Airport as the country’s international gateway considering it has a bigger land area to accommodate the construction of additional runways.
The liberalized air services grouping is expected to strengthen linkages within the regional air cargo industry, improve ASEAN economies, and boost the integration of ASEAN as a single and caring community by 2015 which was strongly pushed by the President during the Philippines’ ASEAN chairmanship in Cebu.