MIAA pressed to heed Congress’ call for suspension of airport terminal fee integration



A coalition of more than 30 OFW groups and labor advocates is calling on the Department of Transportation and Communication and the Manila International Airport Authority to heed the unanimous call of the Senate for a halt to the integration of terminal fees.

“Twenty senators crossed partisan lines to unite behind the lawful exemptions of OFWs from paying the P550 terminal fees,” said advocate Susan Ople of the Blas F. Ople Policy Center in a statement Friday.

She added that a similar resolution was approved by the House committee on overseas workers affairs. 

“The ball is now clearly on DOTC and MIAA’s court.  Millions of OFWs are now awaiting their official response,” Ople said.

MIAA Memorandum Circular No. 8 orders the integration of the airport terminal fee in airline tickets for all international passengers.

In their resolutions, the two houses of Congress agreed that the implementation of airport terminal fee integration disregarded the exemption granted by law to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
 
Under the 1995 Migrant Workers Act, OFWs are exempted from the payment of travel tax, documentary stamp and airport terminal fee upon proper showing of proof of entitlement which is the overseas employment certificate issued by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration.

Members of the House of Representatives who signed the resolution believe that MIAA Order No. 8 should be suspended until it is declared legal and enforceable by the court.

Akbayan party-list Rep. Walden Bello, who chairs the House committee on overseas workers affairs, said his committee may be compelled to file appropriate charges against MIAA General Manager Angel Honrado should he persist to implement the MIAA Order No. 8 while its legality is pending court consideration.

In the Senate, the resolution, signed by 20 senators including Senate President Franklin Drilon, said the MIAA directive should be suspended until such time that an appropriate computer system could be adopted to ensure that OFWs can avail of the airport terminal fee exemption, especially those who are purchasing tickets online.
 
“Through all the discussion, it was shown that the integration of the IPSC into the payment of airline tickets is not urgent and that there would be no loss of profit on the part of the government,” a portion of Senate Resolution No. 1179 said. —Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News

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