EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 903 July 21, 1983
PROVIDING FOR A REVISION OF EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 778 CREATING THE MANILA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AUTHORITY, TRANSFERRING EXISTING ASSETS OF THE MANILA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO THE AUTHORITY, AND VESTING THE AUTHORITY WITH POWER TO ADMINISTER AND OPERATE THE MANILA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
WHEREAS, the Manila International Airport as the principal airport of the Philippines for both international and domestic air traffic, is required to provide standards of airport accommodation and service comparable with the best airports in the world;
WHEREAS, domestic and other terminals, general aviation and other facilities, have to be upgraded to meet the current and future air traffic and other demands of aviation in Metro Manila;
WHEREAS, a management and organization study has indicated that the objectives of providing high standards of accommodation and service within the context of a financially viable operation, will best be achieved by a separate and autonomous body; and
WHEREAS, under Presidential Decree No. 1416, as amended by Presidential Decree No. 1772, the President of the Philippines is given continuing authority to reorganize the National Government, which authority includes the creation of new entities, agencies and instrumentalities of the Government;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution, and pursuant to the authority vested in me by Presidential Decree No. 1416, as amended, do hereby order:
Sec. 1. Title. This Executive Order shall be known as the "Revised Charter of the Manila International Airport Authority."
Sec. 2. Definition. For the purpose of this Executive Order, the terms used herein shall have the following meaning:
(a) "Authority" shall mean the Manila International Airport Authority;
(b) "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Authority appointed by the President under Section 7 of this Executive Order;
(c) "Airport" shall mean the new Manila Airport, including the Manila Domestic Airport, and all its installations, facilities and equipment, and such other airports in Metro Manila as may, in the future, be constructed and administered by the Authority.
Sec. 3. Creation of the Manila International Airport Authority. There is hereby established a body corporate to be known as the Manila International Airport Authority which shall be attached to the Ministry of Transportation and Communications. The principal office of the Authority shall be located at the New Manila International Airport. The Authority may establish such offices, branches, agencies or subsidiaries as it may deem proper and necessary; Provided, That any subsidiary that may be organized shall have the prior approval of the President.
The land where the Airport is presently located as well as the surrounding land area of approximately six hundred hectares, are hereby transferred, conveyed and assigned to the ownership and administration of the Authority, subject to existing rights, if any. The Bureau of Lands and other appropriate government agencies shall undertake an actual survey of the area transferred within one year from the promulgation of this Executive Order and the corresponding title to be issued in the name of the Authority. Any portion thereof shall not be disposed through sale or through any other mode unless specifically approved by the President of the Philippines.
Sec. 4. Purposes and Objectives. The Authority shall have the following purposes and objectives:
(a) To help encourage and promote international and domestic air traffic in the Philippines as a means of making the Philippines a center of international trade and tourism and accelerating the development of the means of transportation and communications in the country. lawphi1.net
(b) To formulate and adopt for application in the Airport internationally acceptable standards of airport accommodation and service; and
(c) To upgrade and provide safe, efficient, and reliable airport facilities for international and domestic air travel.
Sec. 5. Functions, Powers, and Duties. The Authority shall have the following functions, powers and duties:
(a) To formulate, in coordination with the Bureau of Air Transportation and other appropriate government agencies, a comprehensive and integrated policy and program for the Airport and to implement, review and update such policy and program periodically;
(b) To control, supervise, construct, maintain, operate and provide such facilities or services as shall be necessary for the efficient functioning of the Airport;
(c) To promulgate rules and regulations governing the planning, development, maintenance, operation and improvement of the Airport and to control and/or supervise as may be necessary the construction of any structure or the rendition of any service within the Airport;
(d) To sue and be sued in its corporate name;
(e) To adopt and use a corporate seal;
(f) To succeed by its corporate name;
(g) To adopt its by-laws, and to amend or repeal the same from time to time;
(h) To execute or enter into contracts of any kind or nature;
(i) To acquire, purchase, own, administer, lease, mortgage, sell or otherwise dispose of any land, building, airport facility, or property of whatever kind and nature, whether movable or immovable, or any interest therein;
(j) To exercise the power of eminent domain in the pursuit of its purposes and objectives;
(k) To levy and collect dues, charges, fees or assessments for the use of the airport premises, works, appliances, facilities or concessions, or for any service provided by the Authority, subject to the approval of the Minister of Transportation and Communications in consultation with the Minister of Finance, and subject further to the provisions of Batas Pambansa Blg. 325 where applicable;
(l) To invest its idle funds, as it may deem proper, in government securities and other evidences of indebtedness of the government;
(m) To provide services, whether on its own or otherwise, within the Airport or the approaches thereof, which shall include but not shall be limited to, the following:
(1) Aircraft movement and allocation of parking areas of aircraft on the ground;
(2) Loading and unloading of aircrafts;
(3) Passenger handling and other services directed towards the care, convenience and security of passengers, visitors and other airport users; and
(4) Sorting, weighing, measuring, warehousing or handling of baggage and goods.
(n) To perform such other acts and transact such other business, directly or indirectly necessary, incidental or conducive to the attainment of the purposes and objectives of the Authority, including the adoption of necessary measures to remedy congestion in the airport; and
(o) To exercise all the powers of a corporation under the Corporation Law, insofar as these powers are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Executive Order.
Sec. 6. Police Authority. The Authority shall have the power to exercise such police authority as may be necessary within its premises to carry out its functions and attain its purposes and objectives, without prejudice to the exercise of functions within the same premises by the Ministry of National Defense through the Aviation Security Command (AVSECOM) as provided in LOI 961: Provided, That the Authority may request the assistance of law enforcement agencies, including request for deputization as may be required. Such police authority shall be exercised in connection with the following, among others:
(a) Maintenance of security to passengers, cargoes, aircraft, airport equipment, structures, facilities, personnel, funds and documents;
(b) Regulating the entry to, exit from and movement within the Airport;
(c) Maintenance of peace and order within the premises of the Authority in coordination with local police authorities and other authorized peace-keeping entities within the Airport;
(d) Regulation and supervision of private security agencies operating in the Airport; and
(e) Enforcement of rules and regulations promulgated by the Authority pursuant to law.
Sec. 7. Board of Directors. The corporate powers of the Authority shall be exercised by and vested in a Board of seven (7) members, which shall be composed of a Chairman, a Vice-Chairman and five (5) members. The Minister of Transportation and Communications shall be the ex-officio Chairman of the Board. The General Manager of the Authority shall be the ex-officio Vice-Chairman of the Board. The Minister of Finance, the Minister of Tourism, the Presidential Executive Assistant, the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the Commissioner of Immigration and Deportation shall be ex-officio members.
In the absence of the Chairman, the Vice-Chairman shall act as Chairman. The Chairman, the Vice-Chairman and the Board members may designate their respective representatives to attend Board meetings in their absence. Such representatives shall attend Board meetings and the meetings of any committee assigned to their principals, and receive the corresponding per diems.
The Board shall meet regularly once a month and as often as the exigencies of the service demand. The presence of at least four (4) members of their representatives shall constitute a quorum; and the vote of a majority of the members or representatives present there being a quorum shall be necessary for the adoption of any rule, regulation, resolution, decision or any other act of the Board.
The Members of the Board or their representatives shall receive per diems, as the Board may approve, for each Board meeting actually attended by them: Provided, That such per diem shall not exceed One Thousand Pesos (P1,000.00) during any one (1) month for each member or representative.
Sec. 8. Functions, Powers and Duties of the Board. Without prejudice to the powers vested in the Board by virtue of the other Sections herein, the Board shall have the following functions, powers and duties:
(a) To define and approve the programs, plans, policies, procedures and guidelines of the Authority for the development and operation of the Airport within the context of the overall Government objectives, and to control the management, operation and administration of the Authority.
(b) To recommend to the President of the Philippines, for appointment, a General Manager of the Authority who shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Authority;
(c) To approve the Authority's organizational and administrative structure, staffing pattern, operating and capital expenditures, and financial budgets, prepared in accordance with the corporate plan of the Authority, upon recommendation of the General Manager;
(d) To approve salary ranges, benefits and other terms and conditions of service for all officers and employees of the Authority, upon recommendation of the General Manager, which shall, as far as possible, be competitive with those offered in the private sector, subject to existing laws, rules and regulations;
(e) To fix the rate of dues, charges, fees or assessments for the use of the Airport premises, works, appliances, facilities, concessions, services and other fees and charges related to the activities of the Airport, upon recommendation of the General Manager; and
(f) Generally, to exercise all the functions and powers necessary or incidental to attain the purposes and objectives of this Executive Order.
Sec. 9. Functions, Powers and Duties of the General Manager. The General Manager shall be directly responsible to the Board, and shall have the following functions, powers and duties:
(a) To direct and supervise the management, operation and administration of the Authority, and its integral units including its buildings, runways, facilities and equipment, so as to provide international standards of service to airport users, and to ensure its financial stability in accordance with the programs, plans, policies, procedures and guidelines of the Board;
(b) To provide general supervision and overall coordination of all government agencies operating in the Airport with respect to the allocation and use of building space and airport premises.
(c) To undertake researches, studies, investigations, and other activities related to the present operations and future development requirements of the Airport, on his own initiative or upon instructions of the Board, and to submit comprehensive reports and appropriate recommendations to the Board for its information and action;
(d) To appoint transfer, suspend, remove or otherwise discipline any subordinate officer or employee of the Authority, subject to the approval of the Board and to engage either on contractual basis and other suitable arrangements the services of highly qualified professionals, experts, technical advisers or consulting firms and to determine their compensation or fees including other terms and conditions of employment as may be authorized by the Board;
(e) To enter into a memorandum of agreement/understanding, contracts or such other arrangements as may be feasible with such government agencies or private entities operating or providing services in the Authority to ensure proper coordination and integration of all activities in the Authority, subject to the approval of the Board or such laws, rules and regulations as are applicable in the exercise of such authority;
(f) To establish and maintain a system, in coordination with the appropriate government offices and agencies, for the regular and prompt dissemination of financial, statistical and other relevant data within the Authority and to the Board;
(g) Within the limits of the authority delegated to him by the Board, to execute contracts, incur obligations, acquire and dispose of assets, and deliver documents, on behalf of the Authority;
(h) To implement and enforce decisions, orders, rules and regulations issued, prescribed or adopted by the Board; and
(i) To perform such other duties as the Board may delegate or assign, and such other acts as may be necessary and proper to implement this Executive Order.
Sec. 10. Capital. The capital of the Authority to be contributed by the National Government shall be Two and One Half Billion Pesos (P2,500,000,000.00). The initial capital shall consist of:
(a) The value of fixed assets (including airport facilities, runways and equipment) and such other properties, movable and immovable, which may be contributed by the National Government or transferred by it from any of its agencies, the valuation of which shall be determined jointly with the Office of Budget and Management and the Commission on Audit on the date of such contribution or transfer after making due allowance for depreciation and other deduction or taking into account the loans and other liabilities of the Authority at the time of the takeover of the assets and other properties;
(b) The value of such real estate owned and administered by the Manila International Airport.
(c) The value of the net current assets (including stocks and receivables less prepaid payables and accrued expenses) and such cash amount as may be deemed an appropriate initial balance. Such initial cash amount, as approved by the President of the Philippines, shall be more or less equivalent to six (6) months working capital requirements of the Authority, and shall be appropriated out of the funds of the National Treasury. lawphi1.net
Thereafter, the government contribution to the capital of the Authority shall be provided for in the General Appropriations Act.
Sec. 11. Contribution to the General Fund for the Maintenance and Operation of other Airports. Sixty-Five per centum (65%) of the annual gross operating income of the Authority shall revert to the general fund in the National Treasury to be used for the maintenance and operation of other international and domestic airports in the country.
Sec. 12. Auditor. The Chairman of the Commission on Audit shall be the ex-officio Auditor of the Authority. For this purpose, he may appoint a representative who shall be the auditor of the Authority, together with the necessary personnel to assist said representative in the performance of his duties. The number and salaries of the auditor and said personnel shall be determined by the Chairman of the Commission on Audit, subject to the rules and regulations of the Commission on Audit. Said salaries and all other expenses of maintaining the auditor's office shall be paid by the Authority. lawphi1.net
The Auditor shall, as soon as practicable, but not later than three (3) months after the accounts have been submitted to audit, send an annual report to the Board. The Auditor may also submit such periodic or special reports as the Board may deem necessary. lawphi1.net
Sec. 13. Legal Counsel. The Government Corporate Counsel shall be the Legal Counsel of the Authority: Provided, That the Authority may establish its own legal department to handle the day-to-day legal matters affecting the affairs of the Authority. For the performance of his duties and the services of the Legal Staff of the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel, the Board shall appropriate, and the General Manager shall remit, such amount as shall be determined by the Government Corporate Counsel.
Sec. 14. Annual Report. The Board shall submit to the President of the Philippines through the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, together with the audit report on the relevant accounts, an annual report generally dealing with the activities and operations of the Authority.
Sec. 15. Applicability of Civil Service Laws. The Authority and its officials and employees shall be subject to the Civil Service law and its rules and regulations.
Sec. 16. Borrowing Power. The Authority may, after consultation with the Minister of Finance and with the approval of the President of the Philippines, as recommended by the Minister of Transportation and Communications, raise funds, either from local or international sources, by way of loans, credits or securities, and other borrowing instruments, with the power to create pledges, mortgages and other voluntary liens or encumbrances on any of its assets or properties.
All loans contracted by the Authority under this Section, together with all interests and other sums payable in respect thereof, shall constitute a charge upon all the revenues and assets of the Authority and shall rank equally with one another, but shall have priority over any other claim or charge on the revenue and assets of the Authority: Provided, That this provision shall not be construed as a prohibition or restriction on the power of the Authority to create pledges, mortgages, and other voluntary liens or encumbrances on any assets or property of the Authority.
Except as expressly authorized by the President of the Philippines the total outstanding indebtedness of the Authority in the principal amount, in local and foreign currency, shall not at any time exceed the net worth of the Authority at any given time.
The President or his duly authorized representative after consultation with the Minister of Finance may guarantee, in the name and on behalf of the Republic of the Philippines, the payment of the loans or other indebtedness of the Authority up to the amount herein authorized.
Sec. 17. Increase or Decrease of Rates. The Authority may increase or decrease the rates of the dues, charges, fees or assessments collectible by the Authority to protect the interest of the Government and provide a satisfactory return on the Authority's assets, and may adjust the schedule of such rates so as to reflect the cost of facilities or services provided or rendered. The Authority may periodically review all dues, charges, fees or assessments collectible by the Authority, and shall make such adjustments to the schedule of rates as shall adequately reflect any increase in price levels and (in the case of concession rental) of volume of traffic through the Airport, subject to the provisions of Batas Pambansa Blg. 325, whenever practicable.
Sec. 18. Remedies for Non-Payment. If the owner or agent of any aircraft refuses or neglects to pay on demand any rate or charges made in pursuance of Section 17 hereof, the Authority may, in addition to any other remedy provided by law, detain, on its own authority, such aircraft equipment or furniture belonging to the owner or agent of said aircraft, until the amounts due have been paid.
Sec. 19. Fines and Penalties. The Authority shall have the power to exact reasonable administrative fines in such specific amounts and for such specific violations arising out of the use of the Airport, as shall be prescribed in rules and regulations which the Authority is hereby authorized to issue for the purpose, which amount of fine shall not be less than Fifty Pesos (P50.00) nor shall be more than Ten Thousand Pesos (P10,000.00).
Sec. 20. Competitive Tender. The General Manager, shall as far as practicable, grant permits or concessions to trade or business within the areas controlled by the Authority to the highest bidder after a competitive public bidding: Provided, That the bidding requirements may be waived in the case of banks, branches of post office, Bureau of Telecommunications, other government agencies with airport-related activities and those who are engaged in airline operations or where the fees, rates or assessments to be charged have been fixed by the Board.
The General Manager shall require permittees or concessionaires to provide goods or services acceptable under international standards and at such prices similar to goods or services in Metropolitan Manila or airports in other countries: Provided, That such final awards of permits or concessions to successful bidders shall be subject to the approval of the Board.
Sec. 21. Tax Exemptions. The Authority shall be exempt from realty taxes imposed by the National Government or any of its political subdivisions, agencies and instrumentalities: Provided, That no tax exemption herein granted shall extend to any subsidiary which may be organized by the Authority. lawphi1.net
Sec. 22. Transfer of Existing Facilities and Intangible Assets. All existing public airport facilities, runways, lands, buildings and other property, movable or immovable, belonging to the Airport, and all assets, powers, rights, interests and privileges belonging to the Bureau of Air Transportation relating to airport works or air operations, including all equipment which are necessary for the operation of crash fire and rescue facilities, are hereby transferred to the Authority.
Sec. 23. Projects in Progress. All ongoing projects relating to the construction of airport facilities shall be continued by the agency or agencies involved until completion. Thereafter, such projects shall be transferred to the Authority, in accordance with agreement among agencies concerned. Any disagreement, relating to such transfer, shall be submitted to the President of the Philippines for final decision.
Sec. 24. Transfer of Liabilities and Debts. Upon the transfer to and acceptance by the Authority of the existing physical facilities, intangible assets and completed projects referred to in the preceding sections, all debts, liabilities, and obligations of the Bureau of Air Transportation and other government agencies or entities concerned in respect of such physical facilities, tangible assets and completed projects within the Airport, shall likewise be assumed by the Authority. lawphi1.net
Sec. 25. Abolition of the Manila International Airport as a Division in the Bureau of Air Transportation and Transitory Provisions. The Manila International Airport including the Manila Domestic Airport as a division under the Bureau of Air Transportation is hereby abolished.
The Airport General Manager of the abolished Manila International Airport shall continue in office and shall perform all powers and functions of the Authority until such time as a General Manager is appointed for the smooth transfer of responsibility from the abolished entity to the Authority, as well as the determination of the personnel to be retained: Provided, That, all officials and employees whose services are terminated shall be entitled to all benefits and gratuities provided for under existing laws.
Sec. 26. Repealing Clause. All laws, executive orders, letters of instructions, rules and regulations, or provisions thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Executive Order are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly. lawphi1.net
Sec. 27. Separability Clause. The provisions of this Executive Order are hereby declared separable. If any portion thereof shall be held invalid or unconstitutional, such invalidity or unconstitutionality shall not effect the other provisions which shall remain in full force and effect.
Sec. 28. Effectivity. This Executive Order shall take effect immediately. lawphi1.net
Done in the City of Manila, Philippines, this 21st day of July in the Year of Our Lord, Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Three.
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