FILE PHOTO: NAIA Terminal 1 Departure Area (RYAN MENDOZA / Photoville International)
MANILA, Philippines – The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) starts the implementation of integrating international terminal fee on airline tickets.
This is to alleviate the congestion problem in Manila airports.
In 2013, there are more than 7 million passengers that departed from NAIA, more than 5 million of these paid the terminal fee, and more than 2 million are exempted.
After the integration, it is expected that there will be a drastic reduction of people who will line up in the airport.
According to MIAA public affairs head Connie Bungag, terminal fee counters at the airport will be removed after the 1-year transition period.
“The end goal is to take away one counter and since integration is now an international practice.”
MIAA also explains that terminal fee has no expiration, OFW can refund anytime they want.
“Ang assurance po namin dito basta may pera dyan for refund whenever wherever it will be requested for refund kesyo pag-alis mo pagbalik mo kung sa terminal sa opisina namin the money will always be there,” MIAA General Manager Jose Angel Honrado said.
(Our assurance the money for any refund is ready whenever and wherever it will be requested. Whether upon departure or arrival, or in the terminal or in our office. The money will always be there.)
MIAA expects to collect around a half a billion pesos this year from the terminal fees.
But certain OFW groups opposed the regulation; Garry Martinez of Migrante said that this is a clear violation of the Migrant Workers Act of 1995 that exempts overseas Filipino workers from paying the terminal fee.
MIGRANTE said airline companies automatically integrate terminal fee to airline tickets even if the OFW purchased it.
“Violation RA 10022, hindi pwede singilin ang OFW. Ang habol talaga dito ng gobyerno ay kumita pa ng mas malaking pera. Tandaan natin 5,000 mahigit yan lumalabas araw-araw. I times mo yung 550, nag-uusap tayo ng milyong milyong piso kada araw at bilyong piso sa loob ng isang taon,” Martinez said.
(This is a violation of RA 10022. You cannot bill the OFW. The government is only after gaining large amount of money. Remember, more than 5,000 go out of the country every day. You multiply that by 550. We are talking millions and millions of peso every day. And billions of pesos in one year.)
The Manila International Airport Authority explains that Overseas Filipino Workers can get a refund, they just have to present their certificate of employment to get the P550 terminal fee back.
MIAA had put a refund counter for OFW’s.
Some migrant worker reacted positively and said it will lessen long lines in the airports.
But some opposed the regulation and said it is ineffective because you have to fall in line again to get a refund.
Meanwhile Migrante will file a petition for a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) at the Pasay Regional Trial Court to stop the implementation of the regulation.
After this, they will then proceed with the filing of charges for contempt with the Pasay RTC and eventually with the office of the Ombudsman. (Mon Jocson, UNTV News)