PH airport workers leaving for greener pastures

MANILA, Philippines – Like the government’s weathermen, Philippine air traffic controllers, pilots, and professional aerobridge operators are leaving their posts, lured by high salaries offered by the emerging Middle East airports.

An aerobridge operator is the person who drives the accordion-like passenger bridge that connects the terminal to the airplane’s doors once it has docked after landing.

They are not licensed like air controllers or pilots, but they get their expertise through years of training from fellow airport employees.

Members of the Airline Operators Council (AOC) are fearful that with the exodus of these highly qualified workers, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) would soon lack specialists to manage the increasing number of local and foreign airlines arriving at Manila’s airport.

Onnie Nakpil, chairman of the AOC-ASEAN, said 8 aerobridge professionals have so far left the NAIA recently.

They have been hired by the airports in Doha, Qatar, and Dubai, with a starting salary of P80,000 a month, compared to their salary of P13,000 a month in Manila.

Trainees taking over

“We are afraid of what might happen to our aircraft if trainees will handle the operations,” said Nakpil.

He cited as example a China Airlines plane that sustained hull damage when it was bumped by a passenger bridge almost a month ago because a trainee was operating it.

He said the trainee miscalculated the speed of the aerobridge and hit the parked aircraft with such force that the airplane’s aluminum side was gouged. It caused damage estimated at US$1 million to $3 million.

Nakpil is requesting the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) to act now before the problem gets out of hand.

Dante Basanta, NAIA-1 terminal manager, said that the Manila airport has 24 professional aerobridge operators, but more are expected to resign soon due to the lucrative offers abroad.

He said the NAIA is now training applicants for the vacated positions. 

“We cannot match the salary offered by foreign employers which is 6 times higher compared to what local hires receive,” Basanta said.

He said aerobridge operators at NAIA are contractual employees and the MIAA management could not prevent them from seeking greener pastures elsewhere.  

The weathermen, too

This is the same story that country’s weather bureau has – employees are leaving for higher salaries in Africa.

The Philippine Weathermen Employees Association (PWEA) president Mon Agustin confirmed reports that another forecaster, Ricky Fabregas, had accepted an offer from the Republic of Congo.

The PWEA is also mourning two colleagues who died from different illnesses. Agustin said the two were still hoping till the last minute to receive benefits that were due them.

The PWEA said Science and Technology Secretary Mario Montejo and Budget Secretary Butch Abad were both supportive of their claims for longevity and hazard pay.

However, a certification from the DOST Hazard Committee is still pending. Agustin said they don’t understand the unnecessary delay in the release of their benefits. – Rappler.com