Gov't, airlines agree to free OFWs from paying airport fee

Returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), whose tickets were purchased abroad, will be exempted from paying the terminal fee starting March 2017, according to the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

In a statement on Tuesday, the DOTr, citing Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) General Manager Ed Monreal, noted that airlines have agreed in principle to automatically relieve OFWs who purchased abroad their return tickets to the Philippines from paying the terminal fee.
 
“Airlines have already agreed in principle, so, hopefully by March 2017, mawala na ang pangamba ng ating mga OFWs sa pagbabayad ng terminal fee,” Monreal said.

The P550 terminal fee is currently integrated with the ticket fee and is given back through MIAA refund counters at airports, which causes inconvenience to OFWs.

The exemption will be fully implemented by March 2017 to "give airlines time to update their programs and systems for this policy."
 
The Transportation Department noted the agreement has yet to be made official between the airlines and the airport authority. — Ted Cordero/VDS, GMA News

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