MARAWI CITY – In preparation to the turnover of Awang Airport’s landside operation to the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) in October, the Bangsamoro Airport Authority (BAA) of the ministry and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) conducted a three-day joint inventory assessment of the airport from Sept. 28-30.
The activity, led by BAA Airport Manager Carmencita Salik and CAAP Airport Manager Hadji Mohammad Naga Rascal, aimed to identify which facilities will be devolved to BAA and which ones will remain to CAAP’s supervision.
“Nandito po ang inventory team natin with our counterparts from national, CAAP inventory team. Ito po ay para sa nalalapit na turnover ng powers and functions including facilities po natin sa landside area ng Awang Airport,” said Salik.
“Ibig sabihin, dalawa po ang areas ng airport. Ito po yung airside and yung landside. Yung landside lang po ang mai-turn over sa BARMM o made-devolve sa atin in accordance with R.A. 11054 while airside will remain to national CAAP,” she further explained.
Article XIII, Section 37 of R.A. 11054 or the Bangsamoro Organic Law provides that “the Bangsamoro Government shall have the authority to grant regional franchises, licenses, and permits to land, sea, and air transportation plying routes in the provinces or cities within the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region: Provided, That the National Government shall regulate the airside operations of all existing airports.”
Awang Airport’s landside portion includes the terminal building, administration building, concessionaires along with the collection within the airport, and other facilities in between its boundary and boarding gates.
On the other hand, CAAP will continue to manage the control tower, navigation system, and the distance measurement equipment (DME) of the runway.
Located at Datu Odin Sinsuat Municipality in Maguindanao, Awang Airport is a Class 1 domestic airport serving Cotabato City, provinces of North and South Cotabato, Lanao del Sur, and other neighboring areas. (Bangsamoro Information Office)
