DOTr pushes for creation of transport safety body

MANILA, Philippines — Following the series of aircraft issues experienced by local airlines, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) wants the next Congress to prioritize forming an independent body tasked to investigate mobility accidents.

Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said he would urge the 20th Congress to initiate the creation of an agency with functions similar to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) of the US.

Dizon said he has asked US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson for help in establishing the country’s own NTSB, to be called the Philippine Transportation Safety Board (PTSB).

“I know that this measure would no longer be legislated in the outgoing Congress, and it will be difficult to do so in its remaining days. Definitely, we are going to push very hard for the creation of the NTSB,” Dizon told The STAR.

“In fact, I was with the US ambassador and her team, and that is one of the matters we discussed for the US government to help us. The US has one of the best in the world, and we want to work with them to really come up with a structure, with a process,  to make us up to par with standards abroad,” he added.

Dizon is pushing for the creation of the PTSB in the wake of recent aircraft accidents, some of which involved local carriers.

On April 10, a Los Angeles-bound Philippine Airlines (PAL) flight made an emergency landing in

Haneda, Japan after smoke emitted from one of its two air conditioning units. izon ordered the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) to investigate what happened to the flight.

Also, Dizon told CAAP to ensure that PAL properly compensates all of the affected passengers. Immediately, PAL provided food and baggage support to its guests and booked alternative flights to complete their journey to Los Angeles.

Last week, an AirAsia Philippines flight with 166 passengers also returned to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) due to an engine issue. The flight bound for Puerto Princesa came back to NAIA as a precautionary measure.

In a statement, AirAsia Philippines said the aircraft went through a thorough maintenance check in NAIA as standard operating procedure.

“The safety of guests and crew is always the top priority for AirAsia Philippines, and at no time was this compromised,” the airline said.

Cebu Pacific president and chief commercial officer Alexander Lao said the airline supports the DOTr’s desire to institute a separate body that would look into transport accidents.

“The establishment of an independent investigatory body to look into transport-related accidents and incidents is aligned with the global best practices. [This] helps build public trust, as it allows for an objective and impartial view of the event, while ensuring accountability, transparency and focusing on improving safety standards,” Lao told the STAR.

In the 19th Congress, senators filed two proposals aimed at instituting the PTSB. Senate Bill (SB) 1121, authored by Sen. Grace Poe, passed the first reading, while SB 2739, filed by Sen. Lito Lapid, is pending committee approval.

SB 1121 proposes that the PTSB be in charge of investigations on transport accidents in aviation, road, railway, pipeline and marine, with the objective of raising mobility standards.