Bohol News Daily

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ASEAN TO SIGN COMMON AIR TIES WITH CHINA, INDIA, JAPAN & KOREA

Written by Misael on 23 May 2008

Member-countries of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) is expected to sign a multilateral air agreement among themselves together with China, India, Japan and Korea, Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Secretary Leandro Mendoza said.

Mendoza, together with Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) General Manager Alfonso Cusi, issued the statement during the interview at the Bohol Beach Club in Panglao.

The President is set in lead the capsule-laying ceremony for the proposed Bohol-Panglao International Airport.

Mendoza said the Philippines and other ASEAN countries have agreed in principle to liberalize their skies with the possible signing of a “common air agreement” in December this year. Mendoza said ASEAN countries have also discussed with China, India, Japan and Korea the possibility of their joining in the regional air services grouping.

Cusi said ASEAN’s adoption of an open skies policy would ultimately lead to the creation of a single aviation market in the region by 2015, wherein the Philippines needs to further develop its air transport policy as well as upgrade existing facilities.

Mendoza and Cusi said that member-countries that include Malaysia and Thailand have already been developing airports with multiple runways to accommodate bigger traffic while the Philippines still has to develop one. (PIA/Bohol)

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