OFW groups to take battle vs. integrated terminal fee to Congress

Despite a favorable court ruling against the controversial Integrated Terminal Fee, a coalition of OFW groups on Thursday vowed to continue the fight, this time taking the battle to Congress.

In a statement Thursday, the #NoTo550 Coalition said it will seek redress before the two houses of Congress until the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) finally abandons the implementation of Memorandum Circular No. 8.

MC No. 8 seeks to integrate airport terminal fee amounting to P550 in airline ticket for international passengers.

“We will continue to bring our case to Congress that made the law exempting our Filipino workers abroad from paying terminal fee,” the coalition said. “We still hold a firm belief that a mere circular violates the 1995 Migrant Workers Act.”

The #NoTo550 Coalition filed a temporary restraining order against the implementation of the ITF last October, saying it violated the 1995 Migrant Workers Act, which exempts migrant workers from paying the P550 terminal fee.

In a hearing Wednesday, the Pasay City Regional Trial Court ruled that MC No. 8 is “unenforceable”because MIAA failed to publish in a newspaper the official copy of the memorandum as required by Article 2 of the Civil Code and Executive Order No. 292.

Initial victory

The coalition said this “initial victory is more than an encouragement for all OFWs to step up the fight against the MIAA MC No. 8.”

“We are happy at the court’s decision on the issue of airport terminal fee integration. It is definitely a victory not only for us but also, most importantly, for the millions of hardworking Filipino workers abroad,” the groups said.

According to the coalition, both Sen. Koko Pimentel and OFW Family party-list Rep. Roy Seneres have filed separate resolutions asking for an investigation into the ITF.

The House committee scheduled a hearing on November 24. —Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News

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