THE HOUSE of Representatives has approved on second reading the bill creating the Davao International Airport Authority. House Bill No. 8691, the Charter of the Davao International Airport Authority (DIAA), will establish a corporate body to operate the Francisco-Bangoy International Airport in Davao City. The DIAA, which will be an attached agency of the Department of Transportation and will get capitalization from the national budget, will be mandated to “principally undertake the economical, efficient, and effective control, management, and operation,” of the airport. The airport, currently under the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, is being planned for development with private sector participation. The counterpart measure, Senate Bill 1213, authored by Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri, remains pending at the committee level. — Charmaine A. Tadalan

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