MALACAANG

Manila
PRESIDENTIAL DECREE No. 963 July 15, 1976
AMENDING PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 458 RELATIVE TO DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF
AIRPORTS
WHEREAS, there is a need to integrate the planning, construction, maintenance and operation of all
modes of transport to enable effective and economical flow of cargo and passenger traffic throughout
the country;
WHEREAS, it is doubly imperative that such integrated approach be adopted to airport systems to
ensure a high degree of efficiency and safety in air transportation.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of
the powers vested in me by the Constitution, do hereby decree and order to be part of the law of the
land, the following:
Section 1. Presidential Decree No. 458, dated May 16, 1974, is hereby amended by transferring the
functions of the location and design of airport runways from the Department of Public Highways to the
Department of Public Works, Transportation through the Civil Aeronautic Administration and
Communications to be integrated into a total airport systems planning and operations.
Sec. 2. This decree shall take effect immediately.
Done in the City of Manila this 15th day of July, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and
seventy-six.

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Republic Act No. 9497 click here
Establish and prescribe rules and regulations for the inspection and registration of all
aircraft owned and operated in the Philippines and all air facilities;
Establish and prescribe the corresponding rules and regulations for the enforcement of
laws governing air transportation;
Determine, fix and/or prescribe charges and/or rates pertinent to the operation of
public air utility facilities and services;
Administer and operate the Civil Aviation Training Center (CATC);
Operate and maintain national airports, air navigation and other similar facilities in
compliance to ICAO;
Perform such other powers and functions as may be prescribed by law.

Legislative Act No. 3909 passed by the Philippine Legislative on November 20, 1931
created an Office under the Department of Commerce and Communications to handle
aviation matters, particularly the enforcement of rules and regulations governing
commercial aviation as well as private flying. It was amended by Act 3996 to include
licensing of airmen and aircraft, inspection of aircraft concerning air traffic rules,
schedules
and
rates
and
enforcement
of
Aviation
Laws.
From 1932 to 1936, there were no standard procedures as to the licensing of airmen,
registration of aircraft and recording of various aeronautical activities connected with
commercial aviation. There were attempts made to register planes and their owners
without ascertaining their airworthiness and to record names of pilots, airplane
mechanics
and
other
details.
In 1933, the office of Technical Assistant of Aviation matters was enlarged into the
Aeronautics Division under the Department of Commerce and Industry, the functions of
which were embodied in Administrative Order No. 309, a joint Bulletin issued by the
Department of Public Works and Communications and the Department of Finance.
In October, 1934 Act 4033 was passed to require a franchise from the Philippine
government in order to operate an air service and to regulate foreign aircraft
operations.
On November 12, 1936, the Philippine Legislative passed Commonwealth Act No. 168,
better known as the Civil Aviation Law of the Philippines which created the Bureau of
Aeronautics. After the liberation of the Philippines in March, 1945, the Bureau was
reorganized and placed under the Department of National Defense. Among its functions
was
to
promulgate
Civil
Aviation
Regulations.
On October, 1947, Executive Order No. 94 which reorganized the government
transferred Bureau of Aeronautics to the Newly created Department of Commerce and
Industry
and
renamed
Civil
Aeronautics
Administration
(CAA).
On June 5, 1948, Republic Act 224 created the National Airports Corporation which was
charged with the management and operations of all national airports.
On June 20, 1952, Republic Act No. 776, otherwise known as the Civil Aeronautics Act of
the Philippines reorganized the Civil Aeronautics Board and the Civil Aeronautics
Administration. It defined the powers and duties of both agencies including the funds,
personnel
and
the
regulations
of
Civil
Aviation.
On October 19, 1956, Executive Order No. 209 placed the Civil Aeronautics
Administration under the administrative supervision and control of the Department of
Public
Works,
Transportation
and
Communications.
On January 20, 1975, Letter of Instruction No. 244 transferred to the Department of
Public Highways the responsibilities relative to airport plans, designs, construction,
improvement, maintenance as well as site acquisition. The responsibilities related to
location, planning design and funding were later returned to the CAA.
On July 23, 1979, Executive Order No. 546, the CAA was renamed the Bureau of Air
Transportation (BAT) and placed under the Ministry of Transportation and
Communications.

On April 4, 1987, Executive Order No. 125 renamed the Bureau of Air Transportation the
Air Transportation Office headed by the Assistant Secretary of Air Transportation.
On March 4, 2008, Republic Act No. 9497 renamed the Air Transportation Office the Civil
Aviation Authority of the Philippines headed by the Director General of Civil Aviation.