Manila: More upgrades are expected in airports and their navigational systems, as well as continued public-private partnership (PPP) projects in 2025, the head of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said.
According to Philippines News Agency, in Tuesday's Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon episode, CAAP Director General Manuel Tamayo stated that among the priorities is the upgrading of the hardware of the Communications, Navigation, Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS-ATM) system. Last year, CAAP had focused on upgrading the CNS-ATM software. The CNS/ATM enables aircraft to transmit accurate locations for takeoffs, landings, and air traffic control.
"Approximately PHP2.1 billion from JICA fund savings will be used for upgrading the hardware," Tamayo said. CAAP is also required to maintain the old navigation systems, even if the trends now are satellite-based. Upgrades in airports, weather equipment, and runways are also underway, he added.
Tamayo emphasized the importance of an airport's night capability, which would allow aircraft to take off and land during nighttime. For 2025, CAAP is targeting the airports in Pagadian, Cauayan, and Dipolog to be night-rated due to the high volume of passengers. Aside from improving passenger experience and safety, upgrading the airports also generates economic gains, he noted. "Look at Clark, there are many factories. An airport is always a magnet of commercial activities," he said.
CAAP will also continue with PPP projects this year, with the airports in Iloilo, Puerto Princesa, Davao, Siargao, and Bohol among those lined up. "We could concentrate on our other responsibilities if the responsibility to operate the airports would be removed from CAAP," Tamayo said, noting that it would be easier for the private sector to handle the upgrading. "They have the funding. They could procure faster, unlike in the government wherein we have to undergo the bidding process, COA (Commission on Audit). There's a long process."
Tamayo mentioned that he expected the Aboitiz Group to emulate the San Miguel Corp. (SMC), which leads the consortium that currently operates the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). "SMC has several upgrading projects for the NAIA. We expect the same from the Aboitiz Group," he said. The Aboitiz Group bagged the award to upgrade, operate, and maintain the Laguindingan Airport in Misamis Oriental. It will also upgrade, operate, and maintain the Bohol-Panglao International Airport. In October 2024, Aboitiz InfraCapital, the infrastructure arm of the Aboitiz Group, assumed full ownership of Aboitiz GMR Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation, the developer and operator of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport.
