The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) on Friday hosted a special flag raising ceremony to honor Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime Bautista and commemorate his first year as a Cabinet member in the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
The ceremony, according to CAAP spokesman Eric Apolonio, also marked the last day of the DOTr’s temporary stay at the agency’s main building and signaled the department’s move to its new headquarters in Metro Manila.
Bautista thanked the CAAP for its hospitality, saying it “graciously allowed and welcomed the DOTr to use CAAP main building’s 4th floor as its temporary home.” Joel E. Zurbano
While the DOTr’s primary office at Primex Tower in San Juan City is undergoing renovations, the CAAP office served as the department’s tentative base of operations.
Bautista recalled numerous significant experiences, highlighting the encounters with ambassadors from various nations, the oath-taking ceremonies of DOTr officials and its attached agencies, and the crucial meetings with stakeholders from diverse transportation sectors, greatly contributing to the Secretary’s understanding and appreciation not just of the aviation industry but also of the transport sector as a whole.
Meanwhile, he outlined his future plans for the aviation sector, emphasizing the development of airports in provinces across the country. These, he said, aim to enhance accessibility, improve safety standards, and stimulate economic growth by connecting more regions through efficient air transport.
As the DOTr prepares to move to its new main office in San Juan, Bautista said he and the entire department remain steadfast in their dedication to providing efficient and sustainable transportation services and solutions for its stakeholders and most importantly, the Filipino people.
