Pimentel wants airport terminal fee probed

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III has filed a resolution seeking an inquiry into the integrated P550 international passenger service charge or terminal fee for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

Pimentel said the country’s modern-day heroes are exempted from paying the airport terminal fee under the law.

“As a matter of policy, expediency should never override substantive rights. The statutory exemption from payment of travel tax and airport fees is a recognition by the state of the vital role of our OFWs,” he said.

Pimentel, chairman of the Senate committee on justice and human rights, said a directive issued by the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) imposing an airport terminal fee for OFWs violates the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act.

He said the exemption for migrant workers provided under Republic Act 8042, as amended by RA 10022, should prevail over the MIAA’s policy of “removing barriers to travel and simplifying travel regulations.”

The senator said Congress is duty-bound to ensure that issuances by government agencies do not violate the laws passed by the legislature.

The integration of the P550 international passenger service charge or terminal fee into airline tickets was originally scheduled last Oct. 1 but a Pasay City court stopped the Department of Transportation and Communications and MIAA from implementing the order.

Several groups of OFWs had expressed opposition to the directive and asked Transport Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya to recall the order.

Labor groups slammed the lack of consultations regarding the new policy by MIAA officials, questioning the government’s intention on the proposed creation of a trust fund for non-refunded terminal fees.