Cargo forwarder denies calling for review of EO 219

The president of a cargo forwarder firm denied yesterday a statement, attributed to him and the Aircargo Forwarders of the Philippines Inc. (AFPI), and published in several newspapers, that he is calling for a review of Executive Order 219 which mandates the liberalization of the country’s civil aviation policy.

In a formal statement released yesterday, Angelito Colona, AFPI president, said his firm fully supports the liberalization of the country’s civil aviation. "We believe that such a policy will boost the trade and investments in the Philippines, a situation that will definitely benefit our industry and the whole nation," he said.

Last May 22, four newspapers (Manila Times, Malaya, Manila Standard and Philippine STAR) reported that Colona was seeking a review of EO 219, saying this could have "repercussions on the cargo-forwarding sector." The news stories even included purported quotes from him.

In repudiating the published reports, Colona noted that when the country’s air service was liberalized in 1992, international air cargo was recorded at 201 million gross kilos a year. By 1999, it stood at 402 million gross kilos or 100-percent growth in seven years.

"Some 70 percent of the country’s exports are transported via air, owing to the country’s high activity in high-value products like electronics and semiconductors," he said.

With president Arroyo’s emphasis on information and communication technology (ICT) development in her economic program, Colona said he expected an even bigger push in the use of air cargo in trade and investments.

"Civil aviation liberalization is the key to address the additional capacity that will be required by this push in trade and investments, just as it is the key for additional passenger capacity for our travel and tourism industry," he concluded.