Press Release
August 10, 2015

Senate concurs ratification of protocol for safer aviation flights

The Senate today adopted a resolution concurring in the ratification to the Protocol relating to an amendment to the Convention on International Civil Aviation. To date, 144 countries have ratified the protocol.

Resolution 1334, sponsored by Senator Pia Cayetano for Senator Miriam Santiago as chairperson of the Committee on Foreign Relations, was adopted with 16 affirmation votes, zero negative vote and no abstention.

Senate President Franklin M. Drilon said that the resolution would help the government in its efforts towards prevention of the use of civil aircraft for unlawful purposes, with due recognition to international laws on the matter.

The protocol inserts an amendment to the original Convention on International Civil Aviation relating to the use of weapons against civil aircraft in flight and interception of aircrafts flying above a state's territory without authority, according to the resolution.

The resolution said that while signatories of the protocol recognize the sovereignty of a state over its airspace they enjoin the state from resorting to the use of weapons against civil aircraft so as not to endanger the lives of persons onboard and the safety of the aircraft.

The protocol also enjoins contracting parties to take appropriate measures to prevent any aircraft from flying without authority over its territory to be used for any purpose inconsistent with the objectives of the Chicago Convention, the resolution added.

The protocol will empower the Philippine government to prevent and prosecute the use of civil aircraft for unlawful purposes, subject to international laws.

Meanwhile, the Senate also adopted a resolution concurring in the accession to the 1999 Montreal Convention for the unification of certain rules for international carriage by air.

Senate Resolution No. 1336, also sponsored by Senator Pia Cayetano for Senator Miriam Santiago as chairperson of the Committee on Foreign Relations, was adopted with 17 affirmation votes, zero negative vote and no abstention.

The convention facilitates the use of simplified and modernized documents of carriage, enabling the use of electronic or computerized data processing for the issuance of documents.

 It also established a two-tier liability regime in case of accidental death or injury to passengers, and provides for strict liability of carriers in cases of destruction, loss, damage or delay in the carriage of baggage or cargo.

The new liability system under the convention is expected to minimize costly litigation.

News Latest News Feed