Cotabato City – The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has transferred the management of six airports in Mindanao to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) on 11 January 2023.
The turn over ceremony was attended by Intelligence and Investigation Division Acting Chief BGen. Dionisio Robles (Ret.) representing CAAP and Bangsamoro Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim.
CAAP spokesman Eric Apolonio said the six airports include Awang Airport in Maguindanao del Norte, Wao and Malabang Airport in Lanao del Sur, Sanga-Sanga Airport and Mapun Airstrip in Tawi-Tawi, and Jolo Airport in Sulu. CAAP will retain the air side (air traffic control tower, air navigation equipment and facilities) management and control at the airport.
CAAP and the BARMM Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) previously signed the memorandum on transfer of assets and functions last September 2022, which facilitated the implementation of Republic Act No. 11054, otherwise known as the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) which establishes the institution of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
With the turn over, the BARMM MOTC can now officially begin the land side management of the airport. This will include the operation and management of the airport’s passenger terminal building (PTB), administrative building, and vehicular parking area, among others. (JERRY S. TAN)
