Recruitment leader endorses 'open skies' proposal

A recruitment industry officer endorsed on Tuesday a proposal to liberalize the country’s air policy, hoping it would pave the way for cheaper air fares for overseas Filipino workers.

Jackson Gan, vice president of the Federated Association of Manpower Exporters (FAME) said the so-called “open skies" policy has been set aside since 2003 when President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo declared a “pocket open skies" for Clark and Subic economic zones.

Opening up the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport in Angeles City, Pampanga and the Subic International Airport in Olongapo City, Zambales would allow more air carriers to fly into and out of the country, and give OFWs the opportunity wider choice for budget flights.

“The liberalization of the air policy will benefit both recruitment industry and millions of overseas workers who will get access to cheap fares and frequent flights of air carriers to and from the Philippines," Gan explained.

Gan recalled that former National Economic and Development Authority director general Romulo Neri has campaigned for a more vibrant airline industry.

However, the Civil Aeronautic Board, the government agency tasked to regulate the air sector, has been tied down by regulations that prevent entry of new airlines to the main international airports, specifically the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, he said.

Local carriers Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, Air Philippines, and Asian Spirit are strongly opposing the open skies policy because it would grant privileges to foreign airlines without reciprocal rights to Filipino airlines.

Gan said the enormous OFW market with half-a-million workers as new hires from both land and sea-based sectors leaving the country each year to different destinations across the globe is a viable market for all carriers who want to participate in the open skies policy.

“OFWs and balikbayans who usually return to the country every year can take advantage of the availability of cheap fares and frequent flights of many airlines coming to the country. It will result in more savings and mean more time for our workers to be with their families," Gan said.

The Philippines is set to implement an Asia-wide open skies policy with members of the ASEAN countries that would give ASEAN carriers unlimited flights within the region with the adoption of the member-countries of the policy during the December, 2007 meeting in Thailand.

ASEAN partners Japan, Korea and China are also expected to the sign the open skies deal. - Fidel Jimenez, GMANews.TV

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