Philippines unveils ambitious plan for modernising aviation sector
The Philippines has announced sweeping reforms aimed at modernising its aviation sector, with top government officials outlining plans to double passenger capacity and position the country as a leading player in Asia's aviation landscape by 2028.
In a series of keynote speeches at the 2024 Aviation Summit on October 2-3, high-ranking officials unveiled an extensive transformation agenda encompassing infrastructure upgrades, digital modernisation, and regulatory reforms.
The two-day summit, themed “Climbing Towards Sustainable, Safe, Smart Philippine Aviation”, was organised by the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, the Asian Business Aviation Association, and the Department of Transportation.
Philippine Transport Secretary Jaime J Bautista highlighted the success of airport privatisation efforts, citing the Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport as a prime example and announcing plans to extend this model to regional airports.
The ambitious scheme aims to nearly double Manila airport's capacity from 35 million to 62 million passengers annually. Additionally, construction of the New Manila International Airport in Bulacan is set to commence in 2025, with San Miguel Corporation planning to build an elevated highway and railway line for enhanced connectivity.
Bautista announced improvements for multiple regional airports in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines recently upgraded the country's air navigation management system. Further enhancements to communications, navigation, surveillance / air traffic management systems are scheduled for next month through a partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency.
Frederick Go, special assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs, emphasised the aviation sector's role in driving economic growth. With GDP growth at 5.5% last year and rising to 6.3% in the most recent quarter, the aviation expansion is expected to generate approximately 58,000 jobs through increased tourism arrivals and spending.
The Philippines aims to become a leading source of aviation professionals and a major Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) hub in Asia-Pacific. Undersecretary Roberto C.O. Lim revealed that the global aviation sector would require approximately 2.28 million professionals over the next decade, with 428,000 needed in Asia Pacific alone.
In addition to its ambitions in aviation education, the country is also positioning itself as a major MRO hub in Asia-Pacific.
Shevantha Weerasekera, Cebu Pacific Air vice president, highlighted that leading MRO companies in the Philippines currently generate approximately US$1 billion in revenue. Clark International Airport is emerging as a strategic MRO hub, attracting major cargo operators like FedEx and UPS.
Environmental considerations feature prominently in the modernisation plans, with 100 million pesos (59 million baht) allocated for carbon emissions offsetting projects, demonstrating a commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
