OFW groups seek TRO vs integrated terminal fee

ABS-CBNnews.com



MANILA – Overseas Filipino workers' groups and advocates have filed a petition before a local court seeking to stop the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) from implementing the integrated terminal fee in all airline tickets starting November 1.
The groups, led by OFW Family Partylist Rep. Roy Señeres, filed the complaint before the Pasay City Regional Trial Court on Tuesday.
Señeres said the MIAA Memorandum Circular (MC) 08, Series of 2014, would violate a 19-year-old law that grants benefits to millions of OFWs.
The petition named Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya and MIAA General Manager Angel Honrado as respondents.
"For OFWs, taking away this benefit through a memorandum circular without the benefit of consultations while citing how the IPSC (International Passenger Service Charge) is such an emotional issue to government betrays the spirit of the law and the intention of our legislators," Señeres said.
The Memorandum Circular was supposed to have been implemented last October 1 but was moved to November 1. The circular mandates airline and travel agencies to integrate the terminal fee of P550 in the price of airline tickets for all international passengers, including OFWs.
With the integration policy, migrant workers who buy tickets online or whose employers send them e-tickets will be forced to pay the P550 terminal fee despite an exemption that has been in effect for years.
Under the MIAA circular, OFWs with tickets bought overseas or online would have to line up at the international airport upon their return to claim a refund for the terminal fee after filling up a form and upon submission of certain documents.
"The refund will not in any way cure a consummated violation of the law as it would already be a fait accompli. A mere circular cannot amend or disregard a clear provision of the law," he added.
The #Noto550 Coalition composed of different OFW groups have earlier appealed to President Aquino to direct MIAA to respect the law, and to shelve MC No. 8 until such time when a system can be developed in partnership with the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration and the Department of Foreign Affairs that enables such integration to push through without prejudice to the existing exemptions meant for OFWs.
The other members of the #noto550 Coalition are the Blas F. Ople Policy Center, Gemma Comiso of PinoyExpats/OFW Blog Awards, Engrs. Nelson Ramirez and Bienvenido Lorque of United Filipino Seafarers, Carmelita Nuqui of Philippine Migrants' Rights Watch, Ellene Sana of Center for Migrant Advocacy, Loreto Soriano of the LBS Recruitment, Elso Cabangon and Rashid Fabricante of Filipino Migrant Workers Group, Sis. Teresa Evasco of Daughters of Charity Migrants Desk, Luther Calderon of KAMPI, Ma. Fe Nicodemus of KAKAMMPI, Patrick Itao and Abby Platero of the Office of Senator Cynthia A. Villar.

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