The history of Philippine civil aviation reflects the country’s evolving efforts to regulate and

develop air transportation infrastructure. Here's a summary of the key developments:

1.​ 1931 - Act No. 3909: The Philippine Legislature passed a law empowering the Secretary
of the Department of Commerce and Communications to foster air commerce, manage air
traffic, and investigate air mishaps.
2.​ 1932 - Amendments (Act No. 3996 and Act No. 4033): These acts refined the
regulation of aviation in the Philippines, focusing on the licensing of airmen, registration
of aircraft, air traffic control, and the requirement for a franchise to operate air services in
the country.
3.​ 1933 - Aeronautics Division: The office of Technical Assistant of Aviation Matters was
expanded into the Aeronautics Division, which played a pivotal role in the regulation of
aviation, even though standardized procedures were not yet in place.
4.​ 1936 - Commonwealth Act No. 1684: The Civil Aviation Law of the Philippines was
enacted, creating the Bureau of Aeronautics under the Department of Public Works and
Communications.
5.​ Post-World War II: After liberation in 1945, the Bureau of Aeronautics was reorganized
and placed under the Department of National Defense. In 1947, it was renamed as the
Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) under the Department of Commerce and
Industry.
6.​ 1948 - National Airports Corporation: This was established to oversee the management
of government-owned landing fields.
7.​ 1950 - CAA Takes Over National Airports Corporation: The National Airports
Corporation was abolished, and the CAA took responsibility for airport management.
8.​ 1952 - Civil Aeronautics Act (R.A. No. 776): The Act reorganized the Civil Aeronautics
Board and CAA, defining their roles and responsibilities, including the construction and
improvement of aerodromes and air navigation facilities.
9.​ 1956 - E.O. No. 209: This executive order transferred CAA to the Department of Public
Works, Transportation and Communications.
10.​1975 - Letter of Instruction No. 244: This redirected funds for national airport
development to the Department of Public Highways before responsibilities were returned
to the CAA.
11.​ 1979 - E.O. No. 546: The CAA was renamed the Bureau of Air Transportation (BAT),
placed under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications.
12.​1987 - Executive Orders 125 and 125-A: These executive orders restructured the
Bureau of Air Transportation, renaming it to the Office for Air Transportation (ATO),
with the reorganization aimed at enhancing air transport administration.
13.​2008 - R.A. No. 9497: The ATO was abolished, and the Civil Aviation Authority of the
Philippines (CAAP) was established, consolidating the powers and functions previously
 held by ATO. CAAP was tasked with overseeing civil aviation, with the Director General
of Civil Aviation leading the agency.
This progression shows a steady movement toward a more structured and professional aviation
regulatory system in the Philippines.
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) was established by Republic Act No.
9497, which was approved on March 4, 2008. Its creation was part of a broader civil aviation
reform program aimed at improving the safety and efficiency of air transport and regulatory
services in the Philippines.
CAAP is an independent regulatory body with quasi-judicial and quasi-legislative powers,
attached to the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) for policy
coordination. It replaced the Air Transportation Office (ATO) that had been created under
Republic Act No. 776.
The authority is empowered to update standards and procedures for civil aviation inspection,
licensing, and oversight, ensuring compliance with international aviation standards such as those
set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
CAAP has fiscal autonomy, meaning the fees and fines it collects are used to fund its own
operations.
The governing board of CAAP consists of the following members:
●​ The Secretary of DOTC (Chairman ex officio)
●​ The Director General of Civil Aviation (Vice Chairman)
●​ The Secretaries of Finance, Foreign Affairs, Justice, Interior and Local
Government, Labor and Employment, and the Secretary of Tourism (under the
Tourism Act of 2009).
In summary, CAAP's creation consolidated aviation regulatory functions in the Philippines and
enabled more flexibility and autonomy to meet international standards.