Politics Above the Clouds: Philippine Government, National Aviation Policy, and an Industry at a Crossroads

This article examines the political, institutional, economic, and strategic forces shaping Philippine aviation policy at a moment of rapid infrastructure expansion and political uncertainty. It traces the evolution of aviation liberalization, airport governance, public-private partnerships, foreign investment, national and local government roles, regulatory reform, and defense considerations, with particular attention to the Marcos administration, Congress, the Department of Transportation, and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines. It also evaluates the implications of major airport and air-navigation initiatives, including NAIA, Sangley, Subic, provincial airport development, and proposed reforms to CAAP and air navigation services. The analysis considers the ongoing impeachment proceedings involving Vice President Sara Duterte but finds no evidence that the proceedings have directly disrupted current aviation projects, while identifying broader risks associated with political continuity, institutional capacity, investor confidence, and the 2028 transition. The article argues that the long-term success of Philippine aviation will depend less on individual projects than on regulatory independence, transparent governance, resilient institutions, technical competence, and policy continuity across administrations.