'Government taking steps to address aviation safety concerns'

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines has assured the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that the government is taking steps to address the significant safety concerns raised after the country’s aviation safety status was downgraded and Philippine carriers were banned from expanding operations in the US.

Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Cuisia Jr. met on Wednesday with FAA officials led by associate administrator for aviation safety Margaret Gilligan. 

Among the issues discussed were the Philippine government’s ongoing efforts to reinstate the country’s Category 1 status under the FAA’s International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) audit program.

“International aviation safety is a top priority of the Aquino administration,” Cuisia said during the meeting.

The ambassador reiterated that the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), under the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), is committed to addressing the significant safety concerns raised by FAA and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). CAAP has started recruiting qualified technical personnel since March 2010.

Gilligan noted that the high level of political commitment of the Philippine government will help ensure the country’s success in securing the Category 1 status.

She also expressed hope that the Philippines could potentially serve as leader in regional civil aviation in the future, “showing others how it can be done.”