TACLOBAN CITY-The proposal to drastically raise passenger terminal fee in the city’s airport from P30 to P200 has faced strong resistance from various groups in the region.
In a public hearing held Thursday, representatives from different sectors has called on the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) not to pursue the plan considering that the regional airport’s standard is far behind compared to other airport terminals in the country.
City Councilor Rufino A. Pacanan, who represented the Rotary Club and a religious group, said that the 600% rate adjustment is untimely since there’s no ongoing upgrading of the passenger terminal and other facilities that provides convenience.
“We don’t yet find inconvenience. The departure and arrival area is crowded. Sanitation is also a problem. We should not increase our rate same level with international standard airports,” Pacanan said.
If hikes will be approved , the Tacloban Airport will charge terminal fees same rate with Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila and Mactan International Airport in Cebu.
Classified as principal class 1 airport, the Tacloban Airport serves at least 24 incoming and outgoing flights daily from and to Manila or Cebu with thousand of passengers.
CAAP Eastern Visayas area manager Sergio P. Sumergido said that they need to amend rates in line with the mandate to generate more income and not mainly depend from central government subsidy.
“The fees in Tacloban was based on the 1998 economic situation. It’s difficult to operate if we will collect P30 from each outgoing passengers,” Sumergido explained.
He admitted that the existing airport facilities is not convenient for many passengers since most of the structures were designed in 1974.
In a resolution passed by the Leyte provincial board asked the airport management to implement increase after the airport is fully renovated.
“The effectivity of rate adjustments should take place when the Tacloban Airport is already developed into an international airport.” the resolution said.
The national government has been implementing improvement projects in Tacloban Airport such as thi
Tanauan, Leyte Mayor Roque A. Tiu branded the move as embarrassing for the city airport management. “Why charge P200 if our services is only worth P30?,” he asked.
For Ormoc, Calbayog and Catbalogan Airports, CAAP sought to hike terminal fee from P20 to P150.
Ormoc City Councilor Jose C. Alfaro, Jr. said that people in Ormoc opposes rate adjustments unless they will see upgrading of existing facilities.
Some travelers asked CAAP to tap its local income to uplift its services. Under the policy, all of airport’s earnings goes to the national government coffer. The Department of Transportation and Communication through CAAP provides allocation for all airports.
From January to June 2009, the Tacloban Airport has generated P23.7 million from landing and take off fees, parking fees, terminal fees, operational charges, terminal space rental, lot space rentals, and concessions privilege fee.
For passenger service fee alone, the airport has generated P7.67 million during the first six months of the year. (Sarwell Q. Meniano)
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