BARMM takes over management of 6 airports

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has formally turned over to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) the management of six airports in the region.

The Cotabato or Awang airport in Datu Odin Sinsuat in Maguindanao del Norte, Sanga-Sanga and Cagayan de Sulu airports in Bongao and Mapun, respectively, in Tawi-Tawi and non-operational airports in Malabang and Wao in Lanao del Sur are now under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) in BARMM.

CAAP intelligence and security chief Brig. Gen. Dionisio Robles, BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim and Regional Transportation and Communications Minister Paisalin Tago facilitated the symbolic transfer of the management of the six airports from the national government to the MOTC at the Awang airport on Tuesday.

Ebrahim and Tago expressed gratitude to CAAP for turning over to the regional government the management of the airport as provided under Republic Act 11054 or the Bangsamoro Organic Law.

Under RA 11054, the Bangsamoro government shall have the authority to grant regional franchises, licenses and permits to land, sea and air transportation plying routes in the provinces or cities within the autonomous region.

“We are compelled to manage these airports efficiently to show to the national government that the Bangsamoro government is capable of overseeing these facilities nicely, efficiently. This, for us, is a big challenge,” Tago said.

BARMM is composed of the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi and the cities of Marawi, Cotabato and Lamitan.

The transfer of CAAP’s powers and functions to the MOTC is provided under a memorandum of agreement (MOA) signed in September last year.

Under the MOA, CAAP will transfer the properties, assets, powers and functions pertaining to the landside management of the six airports.

It includes the passenger terminal building, administrative building, vehicular parking area and other facilities that are not restricted or not part of air navigational aids and facilities.