Bautista: PH to help further develop ASEAN region’s transport potential
THE Philippines and other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are committed to the success of various potential transport projects in the region and will work together with other partner countries to push for transport initiatives seen to benefit each member state, according to Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime Bautista.
In his first ASEAN Transport Ministers Meeting over the weekend, Bautista stressed the Philippines will push for agreements and areas of partnership that will further develop the region’s transportation potential.
“As a key player in the transport affairs of the Southeast Asian region, the Republic of the Philippines is supportive and is one with the other partner nations in pushing for agreements and areas of partnership that will further develop the region’s transportation potentials,” Bautista said.
Bautista cited the ASEAN-EU Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement and the ASEAN Agreement on Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue Cooperation as among the chief highlights of the 28th ASEAN Transport Ministers Meeting.
A product of close coordination between the ASEAN and the European Union (EU), the ASEAN-EU Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement (CATA) is the world’s first “bloc-to-bloc” air transport agreement and is expected to strengthen connectivity and economic development among the 37-member states of the ASEAN and the EU.
On the other hand, the ASEAN Agreement on Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue (SAR) Cooperation is expected to strengthen cooperation efforts in the areas of aeronautical and maritime search and rescue operations and provide various information exchange and sharing of best practices in the field of SAR and in the conduct of joint SAR training and exercises among ASEAN member states.
Bautista likewise expressed the Philippines’ support to other transport initiatives such as the adoption of the annual priorities/key deliverables for 2023, the ASEAN guidelines on airport environmental management system, the guiding principles for the regulation of application-based mobility services for passenger transport in ASEAN, and the implementation framework to enhance regional container circulation.
“The Philippines is one with the nations of the ASEAN and the EU in the promotion and adoption of various measures in the areas of aviation safety, air traffic management, consumer protection, and environmental and social matters,” he said.
For his part, ASEAN Transport Chair and Indonesian Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi said this year’s ASEAN Transport Ministers Meeting “will provide positive outcomes in sustaining our cooperation, to improve the connectivity in the ASEAN region.”
“I am confident that our meeting today shows our [commitment to] a better tomorrow for generations to come,” he added.
Chaired by Indonesia this year, the ASEAN Transport Ministers Meeting provides an annual platform for transport leaders from ASEAN member states to discuss the priorities and initiatives to further bolster cooperation within the region and with dialogue partners.
