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Court stops implementation of terminal fee integration

Rappler.com

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Court stops implementation of terminal fee integration
A Pasay City court directs Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya and Manila International Airport Authority chief Angel Honrado to observe the TRO on the new scheme for 20 days

MANILA, Philippines – A Pasay City court has issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) on the integration of international terminal fees in airline ticket costs scheduled for implementation on November 1.

Pasay City Regional Trial Court Branch 109 directed Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya and Manila International Airport Authority chief Angel Honrado to observe the TRO for 20 days.

“After hearing the arguments of both parties as to the urgency of the issuance of TRO, the Court believes that there is a need to restrain respondents from implementing Memorandum Circular No. 8 series of 2014 and hereby grants the same,” Presiding Judge Tingaraan Guling said in his decision dated October 31, 2014.

The court set the hearing for the petition for a preliminary mandatory injunction on November 17.

The scheme was supposed to be implemented on October 1 but was deferred for a month, upon the request of groups representing overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

Groups opposed to the new scheme sought a TRO, arguing that it violates the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995, which exempts migrant workers from terminal fees.

The MIAA had earlier said  that OFWs certified by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA); pilgrims endorsed by the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos; athletes endorsed by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC); and others authorized by the Office of the President are exempted from paying the terminal fees.

A terminal fee is collected from the exempted passengers whose airline tickets were purchased online or abroad, and if no exemption certificate is presented when tickets are purchased over the counter.

The terminal fees could be refunded at NAIA upon presentation of overseas employment certificates, electronic tickets, boarding passes, and MIAA exemption certificates.

The move is meant to reduce queuing time at the airport and address the congestion problem for departing passengers. Terminal fee counters will be removed. The new policy is expected to free up a sizable area since the existing terminal fee counters will be removed. – Rappler.com

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