DOTC defends P900-million aviation consultancy contract

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) defended yesterday its P900-million consultancy contract with a Japanese consortium in claiming the need to upgrade the country’s civil aviation communication, navigation and surveillance air traffic management (CNS-ATM) systems.

DOTC’s Air Transportation Office (ATO) project manager Andrew Basallote said civil aviation safety was the paramount consideration in hiring the Japanese experts for the installation of the satellite-based CNS/ATM system for the country’s airspace.

“The government cannot compromise the safety of civil aviation in the country by cutting corners or by hiring just any Tom, Dick and Harry to advise us on how to implement nationwide state-of-the-art civil aviation navigational and communication system,” Basallote said.

In a statement, Basallote assured a transparent bidding process was conducted in awarding the consultancy deal to a Japanese consortium led by Aviation Systems Consultants Co. Ltd. (ASCO) and composed of Airways International Ltd., Azusa Co. Ltd., and Katahira and Engineers.

“The companies undertaking the consultancy project have varied expertise in civil aviation, which should underscore the wide scope and complexity of the new communication, navigation and air traffic management system to be put up by the DOTC,” he said.

Basallote said the requirement of the DOTC for the consulting service for the CNS/ATM project requires actual operational experience in the satellite-based CNS/ATM system.

Thus, it necessitates the inclusion of foreign experts other than the Japanese experts, he said.

Basallote stressed public safety and national security are paramount considerations in civil aviation. 

A contract for consultancy involves meticulous studies and research of all the elements and stages of implementation of a given project, he said.

The DOTC said the CNS/ATM systems will enhance safety, reliability and efficiency of air traffic and airspace systems in the Philippines, in accordance with the requirement of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for member states to transition to the satellite–based CNS/ATM system by 2010.