OFWs oppose integration of terminal fees in airline ticket

MANILA, Philippines - Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and the local recruitment industry have expressed dismay over the decision of the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) to defer the integration of airport terminal fees in airline tickets instead of scrapping the policy.

 Susan Ople, Blas Ople Policy Center head, said groups of Filipino workers have formed a coalition in an effort to stop the implementation of the new policy starting Nov. 1.

 “Filipino workers in different countries are dismayed over the MIAA’s decision to push through with the implementation of the terminal fee integration in airline tickets,” Ople said.

She urged officials of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) to follow the law exempting OFWs from paying airport terminal fees.

 Ople said OFWs have sent a letter to DOTC Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya asking for the scrapping of the new policy.

She said the center is planning to file a complaint to stop MIAA from implementing it.