Guidelines in the Recovery of Costs of Products and Services of PAGASA

2005

DOST ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 002-06

 

WHEREAS, the Republic of the Philippines is a signatory to the Convention on International Civil Aviation ICAO Document No. 7300, otherwise known as the Chicago Convention, to further enhance agreement on certain principles and arrangements in order that international civil aviation may be developed in a safe and orderly manner and that international air transport services may be established on the basis of equality of opportunity and operated soundly and economically;

WHEREAS, the Philippines is a Member country of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and a Contracting State of the Convention on International Civil Aviation which designated the PAGASA as the Designated Meteorological Authority (DMA) of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines primarily taking charge to arrange for the provision of meteorological service for international air navigation on its behalf;

WHEREAS, various principles and methodologies are laid out in the ICAO and WMO guidance materials on cost recovery, namely: Manual on Air Navigation Service Economics (ICAO Doc. 9161), ICAO's Policies on Charges for Airports and Air Navigation Services (ICAO Doc. 9082) and WMO Guide on Aeronautical Meteorological Services Cost Recovery (WMO No. 904);

WHEREAS, pursuant to Executive Order No. 159, it is the goal of the government: (1) to promote full recovery of cost of services to free other government revenues for priority projects; and (2) to ensure equitable distribution of the burden of cost recovery by having the direct recipients of government services account for the costs;

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section, 54, Chapter 12, Book IV of Executive Order No. 292 (Administrative Code of 1987), heads of bureaus, offices or agencies, may, upon approval of the department head, charge and collect the cost of the services rendered by the bureau, office or agency concerned;

WHEREFORE, pursuant to the provisions of the issuances, the following rules and regulations for the implementation of collection of fees and charges for PAGASA products and services are hereby promulgated.

PART I

General Provisions

SECTION 1.  Title. — These guidelines shall be known and cited as the PAGASA Flight Folder Issuance Fee Structure.

SECTION 2.  Definition of terms and acronyms. — Unless defined otherwise, the following terms and acronyms shall refer to the definitions provided hereunder:

a.  "PAGASA" refers to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration. A service Institute of the Department of Science and Technology mandated to undertake, inter alia, observation, collection, assessment and processing of atmospheric and allied date for the benefit of agriculture, commerce and industry.

b.  "AMSO" refers to the Aeronautical Meteorological Service Office (or AeroMeteorological Service Office). An organic unit of the Weather Forecasting Section-Weather Branch mandated by law to issue Flight Documentation Folders to aeronautical users.

c.  "WMO" refers to the World Meteorological Organization. A specialized agency of the United Nations purposely established to further the application of meteorology to aviation, shipping, water resources management, agriculture and other human activities, among others.

d.  "ICAO" refers to the International Civil Aviation Organization. A specialized agency of the United Nations established to standardize, and establish International Standards, Recommended Practices and Procedures covering the technical field of aviation: licensing of personnel, rules of the air, aeronautical meteorology, and aeronautical charts, among others.

e.  "DMA" refers to the Designated Meteorological Authority. The authority providing or arranging for the provision of meteorological service for international air navigation on behalf of a Member country. DMA is functionally referred to as "Service Provider".

f.  "FOLDER" refers to the Flight Documentation Folder. It consists of written or printed documents, including charts or forms containing meteorological information for a flight.

g.  "USER" refers to an entity or individual that utilizes a service furnished by the "Service Provider".

h.  "FEES" refers to all charges and costs assessed against the direct recipients of specialized products and services provided by PAGASA in the exercise of its functions.

i.  "AerIS" refers to AeroMeteorological Information System which is a sub-system of the WAFS-Meteorological Laboratory.

j.  "PAGASA AerIS" refers to PAGASA's aeronautical meteorological information system developed through WAFS-MetLab.

k.  "SYSTEM ADMINISTRATOR" refers to one who, as a primary job function, manages computer and network systems on behalf of another, such as an employer or client.

l.   "FL" refers to flight level.

m.  "hPa" refers to hecto-Pascal. A unit of measurement of atmospheric pressure.

n.  "ETOPS" refers to Extended Range Operation with two engine airplanes.

o.  "AERODROME" refers to a defined area on land, ice, or water (including any buildings, installations or equipment) intended to be used either wholly or partially for the arrival, departure; movement, or servicing of aircraft.

p.  "ALTERNATE AERODROME" An aerodrome specified in the flight plan to which a flight may proceed when it becomes inadvisable to land at the aerodrome of intended landing.

q.  "EN-ROUTE ALTERNATE AERODROME" refers to an aerodrome at which an aircraft would be able to land after experiencing an abnormal or emergency condition while en route.

r.  "AERODROME OF DESTINATION" refers to an aerodrome at which an aircraft is designated to land.

s.  "SARPs" refers to standards and recommended practices employed by both the ICAO and WMO. DAESTI

t.  "PROGNOSTIC UPPER-AIR CHARTS" refers to prognosticated ICAO standard isobaric upper-level charts composed mainly of forecast air-temperature, wind direction and speed usually with validity period of six (6) to thirty six (36) hours.

u.  "SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CHARTS" refers to prognosticated weather charts for a designated level usually; at FL250-630. It may contain forecasts of: cloud areas with indication of its tops; jet streams at different levels, volcanic activity/ash extent and location, frontal systems and its direction and speed and other meteorological information which may affect the safety of aircraft operations.

v.  "WAFS" refers to the World Area Forecast System developed by ICAO and WMO to improve the quality and consistency of en-route guidance provided for international aircraft operations.

w.  "TAFOR" refers to the complete description of the meteorological elements expected at and over the aerodrome throughout the whole of the forecast period, it could be in a 9 or 24-hour validity period, including any changes considered to the significant to aircraft operations. It is prepared by trained staff (aeronautical meteorological forecaster), who, using the latest available regulations, ensure that internationally agreed practices are followed. This is one of the basic aeronautical meteorological information needed in flight planning for safety of the conduct of international or national air navigation.

x.   "METAR" refers to the name code for an aviation routine weather report. In the Philippines, it is issued at hourly intervals. This type of report is one of the basic considerations in the formulation of a TAFOR.

y.   "SPECI" refers to the name of the code for an aviation special weather report. A SPECI can be issued at any time when certain criteria are met. (see Appendix A)". This type of report is also one of the basic considerations in the formulation of a TAFOR"

z.   "Service Provider" refers to PAGASA, as an entity that provides meteorological information to various users or customers."

aa.  "Meteorological Information" refers to meteorological report, analysis, forecast, and any other statement relating to existing or expected meteorological conditions.

SECTION 3.  Electronic Flight Folder Acquisition. — Automated Flight Folder issuances shall be in place and shall be maintained by the PAGASA AerIS Systems Administrator utilizing its FTP service. Authorized Users shall be given a username and password to gain access to the necessary Folder.

SECTION 4.  Folder Preparation and Formulation. — The Folder shall be prepared and formulated in advance by the AMSO throughout the 24-hour period.

SECTION 5.  Folder Availability. — The designated Forecaster shall post the latest Folder at the designated PAGASA website two (2) to three (3) hours prior to the intended time of departure.

SECTION 6.  Flight Schedule; contents. — The User shall be responsible for the submission of the frequency of Folder issuance (daily, weekly or monthly) within a period of seven (7) working days prior to the effectivity of the schedule. The flight schedule shall contain the (a) time of departure; (b) aerodrome of departure; (c) alternate aerodrome (including take-off alternate, en-route alternate, ETOPS en-route alternate); and (d) aerodrome of destination. ScEaAD

SECTION 7.  Unscheduled, Re-scheduled and Cancelled Flights. — Requests for flight Folder outside the submitted schedule or for re-scheduled flights must be made at least twelve (12) hours before the intended time of departure.

SECTION 8.  Folder Structure. — The general structure of a flight documentation folder must be made in accordance with the standard format prescribed in the WMO and ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices. It is categorized into International Flight Folder; and Domestic Flight Folder.

International Flight Folder shall be composed of the following items:

a.  Multi-level prognostic upper-air charts, i.e. FL300 and FL390, with validity period of twenty four (24) hours or more;

b.  Significant Weather Chart, i.e. FL250 - 630, with a validity period of twelve (12) hours;

c.   Compiled list of Terminal Aerodrome Forecast (TAFOR) of each of aerodrome of departure, destination, alternate, en-route alternate, take-off alternative, ETOPS en-route alternate and destination alternate.

  Domestic Flight Folder shall be composed of the following items;

a.  Multi-level prognostic upper-air charts or a choice of two of the following:

i.  Surface (10 meter level);

ii.  1000 hPa level; 850 hPa level; and

iii  700 hPa level

b.   Significant Weather Charts valid up to twelve (12) hours of the following levels:

i.  Medium level 700 hPa to 400 hPa or FL100 to FL250;

ii.  Low-level — Surface to 700 hPa or SFC-FL100;

iii.  Compiled list of Terminal Aerodrome Forecast (TAFOR) of each of aerodrome of departure, destination, alternate, en-route alternate, take off alternate.

PART II

Fees

SECTION 1.  Schedule of Fees. — The fees prescribed in this Section are applicable to the products and/or services and materials furnished by the AMSO.

Schedule of Fees

Reference Code Product/Service Type Cost

IFF Flight Documentation Folder for International Flights US$15.00

SECTION 2.  Billing. — The Accounting Section shall bill the User on a monthly basis. The statement of Account shall be issued by the PAGASA AerIS system administrator containing, among others, the description of products and services, corresponding cost computed based on the prevailing exchange rate at the time of rendition of service.

SECTION 3.  Delinquent payment; surcharge. — Payments made after fifteen (15) days from bill date shall be assessed a surcharge of one percent (1%) of the total amount due.

SECTION 4.   Folder access suspension. — Users are entitled to thirty (30) days grace period within which to settle their accounts. Beyond which their access to the flight folder shall be suspended. The suspension will be lifted three (3) days after the User has satisfactory settled in full his accountabilities which includes his unpaid account plus the corresponding surcharge.

SECTION 5.  Fees Collected. — The fees collected by PAGASA from the Users pursuant to this Department Order shall be deposited to the National Treasury.

PART III

Miscellaneous Provisions

SECTION 1.  Periodic Review of Fees. — The PAGASA Flight Folder fee structure shall be reviewed whenever necessary provided that the rates of fees herein provided may be increased only once a year, unless otherwise required by law, executive orders, rules and regulations, and other issuance.

SECTION 2.  Revision of Fees. — Notice of revision of fees shall be given to users or their duly authorized representatives at least four (4) months prior to the intended revision. During the said period, users may submit their views and/or comment to the service provider.

SECTION 3.  User Consultation. — Consultation with the Users shall be done as frequent as necessary to gauge the cost effectiveness of the service and/or product.

SECTION 4.  Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Department Order is declared unconstitutional, illegal or invalid, the other parts not affected shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SECTION 5.  Effectivity. — This Department Order shall take effect immediately after its publication in a newspaper of general circulation.

(SGD.) ESTRELLA F. ALABASTROSecretary

Published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer on May 12 & 19, 2006.