Mar wants bill of rights for air passengers

MANILA, Philippines - Transportation and Communications Secretary Manuel Roxas II has asked the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) to come up with a Passenger’s Bill of Rights for air passengers.

Roxas said he instructed CAB executive director Carmelo Arcilla to lay down the basic rights of air passengers of domestic as well as international flights, in collaboration with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) as well as the different airlines operating in the country.

Roxas said the move is in line with efforts of the DOTC to address mounting complaints regarding cancelled bookings, delayed flights and mishandled or missing baggage, among others, especially those involving budget airlines or flights on promo fares.

He earlier said the DOTC will coordinate with the DTI and concerned airlines to address such complaints.

The move came on the heels of a brawl at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 involving columnist Ramon Tulfo and the group of actor Raymart Santiago and his actress-wife Claudine Barretto, when the latter allegedly berated a Cebu Pacific ground crew over offloaded baggage.

Tulfo said that when he started taking pictures, a man from the actress’ group, whom he later recognized as Santiago, approached him and demanded that he surrender his cell phone.

He said his refusal to do so irritated the actor and his companions, who started ganging up on him.

Roxas said he designated Undersecretary for Operations Rafael Santos to head the technical working group that would formulate the proposed Passenger’s Bill of Rights.

He said Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo has committed to help the DOTC by lending experts in consumer affairs, adding that airline companies also promised to participate in the undertaking.

“Whatever the rules now in the CAB, obviously... they are not adequate and acceptable,” Roxas said.