This was what Mr. Salvatore Sciacchitano, president of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), during the Gala Night hosted by the Cebu Provincial Government on October 14 at the JPark Island Resort and Water Park Mactan in Lapu-Lapu City.
“Cebu, for one week, is the capital of civil aviation of this region with the presence of so many directors-general of civil aviation, and a little bit the capital of civil aviation of the world because most of the leaders of civil aviation came here,” Mr. Sciacchitano said.
He headlined officials and stakeholders of the “59th Conference of Directors General of Civil Aviation for the Asia and Pacific Regions” that is taking place in Cebu from October 14 to 18. It organized by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), led by Director General Capt. Manuel Antonio Tamayo, in coordination with the Philippine Department of Transportation represented by Undersecretary Atty. Roberto Cecilio Lim.
This five-day conference has for its theme, “Shaping the Future of Air Transport: Sustainable, Resilient, and Inclusive.”
It provides a forum for directors general and key stakeholders in the civil aviation sector from 47 member states of ICAO and 15 international organizations to address important industry concerns, such as aviation safety, security, air navigation, environmental challenges, and the economic growth of air transport.
“Cebu reflects the spirit of the 59th Conference of Directors Generals Civil Aviation of this region. Cebu represents the real objective of civil aviation, which is to support the development of social and economic development of countries,” the ICAO president added.
ICAO is a specialized agency of the United Nations that coordinates the principles and techniques of international air navigation, and fosters the planning and development of international air transport to ensure safe and orderly growth.
Countries such as the USA, UK, Australia, Canada, France, China, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, and Vietnam are among the delegations of the conference.
The Provincial Government acceded to the request of Captain Tamano for the province to host a reception dinner for around 500 executives and stakeholders of civil aviation in the Asia and Pacific in order to also showcase Cebu’s tremendous gains in the aviation industry.
For one, the Mactan Cebu International Airport is the country’s model airport; by the Province and the MCIAA are busy in putting up the airports in the islands of Bantayan and Camotes to cut on travel time to these premium tourism destinations.
“Surely, this 59th Conference was so scheduled so that the Province of Cebu could host all of you,” Gov. Gwen said. “As all of you deal with aviation and flying, perhaps the message here is, you see over here in Cebu, we are the number one province of the 82 provinces in the entire country, we lead in so many ways.”
“I have always been saying that we move on, we move forward. But with the presence of all of you, aviation, flying high, you’re here as a message from the universe that Cebu will fly high and soar to even greater heights of progress and development,” the Governor added.
Lone District of Lapu-Lapu Congresswoman Ma. Cynthia King Chan joined her husband Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard Chan at the reception which was also attended by ICAO Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar.
Provincial Board Members Glenn Soco, Mike Villamor, Red Duterte, and Loren Cinco also represented the provincial legislative body and joined the Governor at the event. | BJR