Davao Airport Authority Law Signed

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has signed into law the bill creating the Davao International Airport Authority (DIAA), which will supervise all airports in his home region.

Under Republic Act (RA) 11457 signed by the President on August 30, the DIAA will operate under the Department of Transportation (DoTr). Its principal office will be located at the Francisco Bangoy International Airport (FBIA)

“The Authority shall principally undertake the economical, efficient, effective control, management and supervision of the FBIA in Davao City, the existing airports in the Davao Region, and such other airports as may thereafter be established in any of the provinces of the same region,” the new law stated.

The DIAA is also mandated to manage and upgrade the FBIA on the eastern side of Mindanao, one of the country’s busiest air terminals.

It also has the power to exercise police authority, “as may be necessary,” within its premises of areas of operation to carry out its functions and attain its purposes and objectives.

All existing public airport facilities, runways, lands, buildings and other properties, movable or immovable, that belong to FBIA will be transferred to the DIAA.

The DIAA will also have the jurisdiction over all assets, powers, rights, interests and privileges relating to airport works or air operations.

“All ongoing projects relating to the construction of Francisco Bangoy International Aiprot facilities and supply of equipment shall be administered and undertaken by the Authority,” the law read.

The DIAA will also have an authorized capital stock equal to the value of fixed assets administered by the FBIA, the value of real estate owned by the said airport, and government contribution in such amount as may be deemed an appropriate initial balance.

Its corporate powers will be exercised by and vested in the board of directors composed of a chairman, vice chairman and 13 members.

The DoTr secretary and the DIAA general manager will serve as ex-officio chairman and vice chairman of the board, respectively.

RA 11457, which was released to the media on Tuesday, will take effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper.

The Davao International Airport hosts direct flights to Singapore and received in 2016 the first flight from China’s Xiamen Air.

Similar corporate bodies, the Manila International Airport Authority and the Clark International Airport Corp., manage major airports on Luzon Island.

———

©2019 The Manila Times (Manila, Philippines)

Visit The Manila Times (Manila, Philippines) at www.manilatimes.net

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.