Estrada upbeat on RP-Taiwan air ties

DAVAO CITY -- President Estrada expressed hope yesterday that the soured aviations relations between the Philippines and Taiwan will finally be over.

"Right now, there are still problems but the two panels are still talking and I believe it will soon be solved," the President said.

However, the President's optimism was met with doubts as Taiwan reportedly refused to send representatives to the official talks yesterday with their Filipino counterparts in Manila.

Although efforts were made to finally resolve the row, disputes broke anew last month after Taiwan cut down the allotted Manila - Taipei flights from seven to only four flights a week in retaliation to the failed bid of China Airlines to operate excess Kaohshiung-Manila flights.

A new permanent service agreement is expected to be forged between the two countries to replace the outdated 1996 air pact.

The projected accord is also expected to serve as the foundation for long-term aviation relations between the two countries.

Philippine Airlines has strongly objected to Taiwan's "arbitrary action" of restricting its Manila-Taipei flights to four times weekly as against the 17 flights that Taiwanese carriers are allowed to operate to the Philippines.

"We strongly protest this grave imbalance," PAL said in a formal complaint to the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB).

The flag carrier also requested the CAB to take action to address Taiwan's blatant violation of the Jan. 28 MECO-TECO provisional agreement, which guarantees reciprocity, for both sides' carriers.

On Jan. 28, 2000, the Philippines and Taiwan, through their official representatives, the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO), respectivley, signed an interim pact that resolved their aviation dispute and restored direct air links.

The central provision of the agreement was the allocation of 4,800 seats weekly for either side on all air routes between the Philippines and Taiwan.

The 17 flights weekly the GAB has granted Taiwanese carriers already fill up Taipei's 4,800-seat quota. PAL's four flights weekly are equivalent to only 1,200 seats.

"PAL has not committed any violation or abuse and yet we are being arbitrarily penalized (by the Taiwanese civil aviation authorities)," the airline said.

PAL charged that the sudden decision of the Taiwanese civil aviation authority last Feb. 22 to drastically cut its frequency -- handed down only hours before the Taipei-bound PAL flight was due to take off, forcing its cancellation as well as that of two others -- had caused heavy financial losses.

"Our company is seriously affected by the consequences of the Taiwanese directive. Not only did the cancellation of those three flights cause much inconveniences to our passengers, but they also damaged PAL's good name and reputation," the airline said.