Palace: CAAP passed int’l evaluation

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang clarified yesterday that the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) expressed satisfaction with the efforts of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) to comply with international safety standards.

The Palace made the clarification after it was reported that CAAP again failed to pass the safety audit conducted by ICAO-International Civil Aviation Organization Coordinated Validation Missions (ICVM) from Sept. 18 to 22.

Quoting the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the ICVM team told CAAP officials they would be recommending to ICAO headquarters in Montreal, Canada the lifting of the Significant Safety Concerns (SSCs) it previously issued to the Philippines.

Valte said the report that CAAP failed the international audit was erroneous and preempted a statement by the ICVM on the matter.

“We’re waiting for the (ICVM) pronouncement, but since this story came out, we feel duty-bound to address and to come out with the information immediately because that’s false... that is actually a very grossly inaccurate report,” she said.

The Palace executive said they were expecting a comprehensive press release from ICVM.

“ICAO will be making the official announcement anytime soon,” Valte said, adding there was nothing official from the ICVM yet but the government was confident the restrictions would be lifted.

She said the story that CAAP failed ICVM’s evaluation was the “exact opposite” of the actual findings.

“We don’t know where this story came from but we feel duty-bound to correct it because of the impact, the negative impact that this inaccurate story will have on our aviation,” she said.

Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said the audit yielded positive results.

                “The ICVM team was satisfied with their observations or findings on CAAP’s efforts to comply with international safety standards and no longer sees significant safety concerns,” Abaya said.

The ICVM team was headed by team leader Henry Gourdji and composed of Jean Claude Waffo and Sekhat Natarjan Chandr, tasked with evaluating aerodrome ground airfield facilities; Allan Tang, licensing; Vincent Lambottea, operations; and Amal Hewawasam and Kong Cheong, airworthiness.

CAAP expressed optimism that the recommendations of ICVM would be approved or adopted by ICAO headquarters. It is expecting ICAO to make an official announcement on the lifting of the SSC within two to three weeks. - With Lawrence Agacaoili, Rainier Allan Ronda, Rudy Santos