PB Asks MIAA to Hold in Abeyance Terminal Fee Integration

The Cebu Provincial Board (PB) has passed a resolution asking the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) to recall or hold in abeyance its implementation of an international passenger service charge (IPSC) integration program.

This means that the airport terminal fee will be integrated in the cost of airline ticket at the point of sale.

Cebu PB Member Jude Thaddeus Durano Sybico, author of the resolution, said while the program is implemented by the MIAA, overseas Filipino workers (OFW) from Cebu passing through the Manila international airport will be affected.

Sybico said if the terminal fee will be incorporated in the plane ticket, there is no way of knowing if the person who bought the ticket is an OFW.

He said some OFWs from Cebu would go directly to Manila where they would depart to their respective workplaces outside the country.

“We know that OFWs’ remittance helps in keeping the economy afloat,” the resolution read.

A copy of the resolution was furnished to MIAA general manager Jose Angel Honrado.

According to the resolution, Republic Act (RA) 8042, as amended by R.A. 10022 or the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipino Act, states that OFWs are exempted from paying travel tax and airport terminal fee as long as they can show their overseas employment certificate issued by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration.

Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) General Manager Nigel Paul Villarete said as far as Cebu’s international airport is concerned, no passenger service charge is collected from OFWs.

Earlier this month, a Senate panel heard the resolution calling for a suspension of the implementation of Memorandum Circular 8 issued by MIAA pending the creation of a computer program that would automatically exempt OFWs from paying the terminal fee.

The memorandum was meant to address congestion at all Ninoy Aquino International Airport terminals by trimming down the processing time of passengers. (PNA) FPV/EB