Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Director General Jim Sydiongco led the inauguration of the CAAP‘s Office of the Flight Surgeon and Aviation Medicine (OFSAM) Medical Building on a virtual ceremony earlier today.
CAAP OFSAM was designed to provide various medical services to their employees and stakeholders, according to DG Sydiongo.
“CAAP OFSAM will provide medical services, such as neuro-psychiatric evaluation, ECG, X-ray, refraction, blood chemistry, and dental services to all airmen requiring medical evaluation for the purpose of licensing, as well as to CAAP employees and their families,” according to DG Sydiongco.
“With the completion of this newly-renovated OFSAM building, we hope to further improve our capabilities in providing quality health services, especially now that the country is in the midst of our battle against COVID-19,” Sydiongco added.
In his speech, Secretary Tugade lauded the efforts of CAAP in ensuring the health and well being of its stakeholders and stressed the importance of upholding safety in the aviation sector.
“Maraming mga gusali at paliparang itinayo ang CAAP, ngunit ang ini-inaugurate natin ngayon ay isang medical building kung saan binibigyang importansya natin ang kalusugan ng ating mga kawani at airmen. Ipinapakita lamang nito na ang CAAP, na pinamumunuan ni Director General Jim Sydiongco, ay hindi lamang pinangangalagaan ang mga paliparan. Pinapakita rin nito na kaya nilang pangalagaan ang kanilang mga kawani at lahat ng airmen. Because what is an airport if the people managing and operating it are not taken care of?” Secretary Tugade said.
“To the men and women of CAAP, today, you make me happy, you make me proud, and I am grateful to all of you,” Sec. Tugade said in conclusion.
The renovation works at the OFSAM building, started on 24 May 2019, and was completed on 12 March 2020. The project has an approved budget of PHP23,330,233.29 and a final contract amount of PHP23,252,165.26.
The rehabilitation has not only refurbished CAAP’s OFSAM building into a more modern facility but also brought in new equipment into the department. These include new dental chairs for the OFSAM’s Dental Unit, a new Lensometer and Trial Lens for the Refraction Room, a laboratory refrigerator, and portable alcohol breath analyzers.
Also present in the virtual inauguration were OFSAM chief Dr. Rolly Bayaban, and other CAAP and DOTr officials. The inauguration was held in compliance with IATF health and safety regulations and was streamed live via CAAP and DOTr social media accounts.