Mactan Airport Workers Assured of Safety, Benefits

All Mactan airport workers are assured of occupational safety and to receive all benefits due them under a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed Thursday by officials of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-7 and the Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA).

Lilia Estillore, DOLE-7 assistant regional director, said under the area-wide Kapatiran Program of DOLE, labor laws pertaining to the safety of workers will be enforced in all areas of the airport.

She said under the MOU, all airport operators are obliged to abide by the laws on safety of the personnel.

She said the objectives are zero accidents and workers should receive all benefits due them under labor laws.

MCIAA General Manager Nigel Paul Villarete said he is happy the agreement was inked between the two offices, adding that safety is the top priority in a workplace like an airport.

“We are thankful to DOLE for this. What we are aiming is not only to be the first in aviation safety, but we’ll be first in terms of safety of all our employees, of the workers of our concessioners, airlines and cargo handlers and all other support industries,” he said.

Villarete said the program’s objective is not just to increase the safety of the workers in the airport, but also to elevate the protection of small businesses inside and outside the landing field.

He said the MOU will expand safety in the workplace in the airport to industries around the airport. (By Eddie O. Barrita (PNA) CTB/EB/)