Press Release

12 December 2023

Photo: CAAP Director General Captain Manuel Antonio Tamayo (left) with Deputy Director General for Administration Atty. Danjun Lucas (right)

The Philippines, through the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), is attending the 34th Meeting of the Asia/Pacific Air Navigation Planning and Implementation Regional Group (APANPIRG 34) that is being held at the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department (HKCAD) Headquarters Auditorium in Hong Kong, China, from 11 to 13 December 2023.

Photo: DG Tamayo (right) shaking the hands of ICAO Asia and Pacific Officer(APAC) Deputy Regional Director Dr. Manjit Singh (left)

During the discussions, CAAP Director General Captain Manuel Antonio Tamayo shared the country’s continued work towards the fulfillment of the 2018 Beijing Declaration, “The Philippines steadfastly upholds its commitment to the Beijing Declaration, aiming to advance aviation safety and meet agreed objectives. Through CAAP, the country has made substantial progress in terms of its Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme Effective Implementation (USOAP EI) score and its implementation of an effective State Safety Program (SSP).’’

The APANPIRG 34 is bringing together officials from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) as well as Directors General from the Asia and Pacific (APAC) Region to conduct a series of talks and meetings related to the region’s commitments to the 2018 Beijing Declaration, which involves aviation safety, the harmonization of air navigation services, the establishment of a separate accident investigation authority, and the development of human resources, as well as a performance framework for regional air navigation planning and implementation, among others.

On the meeting’s second day, the Philippines, as represented by Director General Tamayo, was also elected with overwhelming support as chairman of the next APANPIRG meeting.

Photo: DG Tamayo (left) with Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) Director General Han Kok Juan (right)

“We are deeply honored to be elected as chairman of the APANPIRG 35 as we work towards harmonizing the operational requirements of air navigation facilities in our region and in creating a more sustainable and resilient aviation sector. We want to express the Philippines’ full support for the fulfillment of the APANPIRG’s goals and aspirations in developing the Asia and the Pacific’s Air Navigation Planning and Implementation in line with the ICAO’s global initiatives on capacity building,” said Director General Tamayo. Other officials from the international aviation community, such as ICAO APAC Regional Director Mr. Tao Ma, ICAO APAC Deputy Regional Director Dr. Manjit Singh, Singapore Ministry of Transport Deputy Secretary and current APANPIRG chairman Mr. Kevin Shum, and Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) Director General Han Kok Juan, are also present at the event.