Rep. Paolo “Pulong” Duterte recently filed House Bill No. 7347, aimed at creating Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Flight Standards Inspectorate Centers (FSIC) in Visayas and in Mindanao.  The measure will amend Republic Act No. 9497, otherwise known as the Civil Aviation Authority Act of 2008.

HB7347 seeks to extend the Flight Standards Inspectorate Service (FSIS) function through the creation of CAAP FSIC in Visayas and Mindanao to develop its functions of providing cost-efficient services and central access to all the regions in the country.

The lawmaker from Davao said the absence of a central regional office curtails the communications necessary to establish and implement region-specific programs and policies, especially in the midst of the COVID-10 pandemic where travel restrictions are set.

“The enactment of HB7347 shall take us one step closer to the achievement of the CAAP vision to be a pre-eminent Civil Aviation Authority in the world and a global brand of excellence in civil aviation,” Duterte said.

Once the bill hurdles the Senate and House of Representatives, it states that, Section 1. A new section is hereby inserted after Section 40 of Republic Act No. 9497.

It shall read as follows—Manage all the activities and personnel of FSIC; Promote civil aviation safety through proper implementation of regulations; Conduct prompt, sustained, and consistent surveillance in accordance with ICAO standards and recommended practice; Certify commercial air transport and general aviation operators and approve training organizations and maintenance organizations; Issue airmen licenses to qualified applicants; Harmonize operating regulations and coordination among the various departments responsible for the implementation of national and international standards; and perform such other powers and functions as may be prescribed by law or assigned by the director general.”