OFW against integration of terminal fee

No to Terminal Fee

OFW (Overseas Filipino Workers) stopped the integration of terminal fee for international flights from Manila. OFW have a privilege – they do not have to pay the terminal fee when traveling abroad.

On July 14, 2014, The Filippine Flight Network reportet:

After initial opposition by 17 foreign carriers to integrate the ₱550 (US$12.50 or £7.50) terminal fee into the price of an airline ticket, the majority of those carriers along with 15 other carriers have finally agreed to do so.

Under a Memorandum of Agreement signed last July 1 at Ninoy Aquino International Airport’s (NAIA) Terminal 3, thirty-two foreign and domestic carriers and the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) have agreed to initially implement the integration of terminal fees into the cost of airline tickets beginning on October 1, 2014 with a transition period lasting through to September 30, 2015.  Full implementation will take place on October 1, 2015.  Once fully implemented, passengers can proceed directly to passport control from their carrier’s check-in desk, facing one less queue.

Already at that time, the Overseas Filipino Workers opposed:

Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) are currently exempt from paying this fee.  Recruiters of OFWs, who claim were not consulted, have expressed concern that this new policy will create confusion both for them and OFWs.  Under the new policy, OFWs or their recruiters will initially pay for a ticket that includes the terminal fee but can request for a refund of terminal fees at a designated ticket desk.

Everybody expected the same chaotic scenes at the Terminal Fees Refund desk that can already be seen at the TIEZA Travel Tax desks.

Terminal Fee

Where is the problem?

The problem is with the Philippine lawmakers. They cannot pass one law without according exceptions to particular groups. Like in George Orwell’s Animal Farm, the lawmakers stipulate that: All Filipinos are equal but some Filipinos are more equal.

Many of these exceptions create incredibly complicatedly procedures. These procedures need a big number of staff to handle the exceptions.

Today, November 1, 2014, Pasay court stopped the integration of the terminal fee

ABS-CBN reports: The Pasay Regional Trial Court has temporarily stopped the implementation of the integrated terminal fee in all airline tickets of international flights. The Pasay RTC Branch 109 issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) on Friday, granting the petition of several overseas Filipino workers’ groups and advocates. A Memorandum Circular of the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) mandating airline and travel agencies to integrate the terminal fee of P550 in the price of airline tickets was supposed to take effect on November 1.

The OFW groups argued that the circular violates a provision in the Migrant Workers Act, which exempts OFWs from paying travel taxes, documentary stamps and airport terminal fees. Recruitment industry leader and former OFW Lito Soriano lauded the court’s decision to grant the TRO.  MIAA, meanwhile, said it will honor the TRO and will suspend the implementation of the integrated terminal fee.

At least the Philippine lawmakers do not lack of work  🙄 Long live the Fee-lippines

Read more about taxes and fees …

[GARD]

Related posts

  • No more NAIA Terminal FeeFebruary 3, 2015 No more NAIA Terminal Fee There is no more NAIA Terminal Fee! We have updated our Departure Page accordingly. For many, too many years passengers had to pay the […]
  • Kalibo International Airport – 50 Mega Pesos Terminal Fee vanishedMay 21, 2016 Kalibo International Airport – 50 Mega Pesos Terminal Fee vanished Kalibo International Airport is missing 50 Million Pesos (USD 1 Million) from Terminal Fee collection. It seems that ticket (fee) […]
  • Cebu International Airport – Higher Terminal FeesOctober 10, 2014 Cebu International Airport – Higher Terminal Fees Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) wants to increase the terminal fee for all passengers. For domestic passengers, the […]
  • Terminal FeeJune 17, 2014 Terminal Fee Terminal Fee is a magic word in the Fee-lippines. For any shack or shelter in a port or airport one has to pay the famous Terminal […]
  • Terminal fee – I can’t believe itMay 8, 2012 Terminal fee – I can’t believe it Over years I had railed against this silly terminal fee in the Philippines. Anywhere in the world all the airport taxes are included in […]
Share if you like

You may also like...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Enter Captcha Here : *

Reload Image

error: Content is protected !!