Government inks Asean open-skies accords

The government ratified the two remaining protocols out of the six that, together, comprise a regional pact liberalizing air transportation in the Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Economic Community.

On February 3, President Aquino signed Protocol 5 and Protocol 6 of the ASEAN Multilateral Agreement in Air Services (Maas), the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) said in a statement. Under the two protocols, Philippine air carriers can now fly unlimited frequencies to and beyond the capital cities of Asean members.

Protocol 5 provides contracting states’ designated carriers with unlimited third and fourth freedom opportunities between their own capital city and all the other Asean capital cities while Protocol 6 provides unlimited fifth freedom traffic rights between Asean capital cities. According to the Asean Integration Report 2015 (AIR 2015) released in November 2015, Protocols 5 and 6 have much greater economic significance than the first four protocols, since the two cover the 10 capital cities and are not limited by sub-regional proximity. Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said this will “enhance regional trade and investment opportunities for Philippine businesses that are looking to expand their markets.” This will also “provide better access to Filipino individuals, such as professionals and students, who wish to explore job and educational opportunities in the Asean region.” Moreover, the transport department expects the Maas to benefit the country’s local tourism and service industries, “as the agreement allows foreign airlines to increase their flights to Manila and other cities as well. Just as it will encourage more visitors to come to the country, Filipinos will also enjoy a wider array of flight options and ticket prices to the rest of the Asean.”

The signing of the two protocols finally makes the country compliant with the Maas. AIR 2015 earlier said the Philippines was the only country left in the Asean that had yet to ratify the two protocols, as all the other member states had already approved all protocols under Maas as of October 2013.