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[av_heading heading=’ Villar lauds terminal fee exemption for OFWs’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY PRINCE GOLEZ, Manila Reporter
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MANILA – Terminal fees will no longer be collected from departing overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) recently reversed the policy of the previous administration to collect airport terminal fees from Filipinos working abroad.
Sen. Cynthia Villar has expressed her gratitude to the MIAA for its new policy on terminal fees.
“I am happy that the new MIAA general manager ED Monreal is attuned to President (Rodrigo) Duterte’s policy of treating our modern-day heroes with respect and compassion,” Villar said.
“We in the Senate have always believed that the integration of terminal fees in airport tickets can be accomplished without having to tread on the toes of millions of our OFWs. In fact, I had made repeated appeals to the MIAA, Department of Transportation and Communication, and the Department of Science and Technology to look at solutions to spare our OFWs from paying a fee that the law exempts them from,” the senator said.
According to her, former MIAA general manager Angel Honrado proceeded to collect the P550 terminal fee from OFWs in Feb. 1, 2015 despite objections of OFWs and other civil society groups.
Meanwhile, Monreal said efforts are now underway to modify the collection system so that OFW exemptions as mandated under the Migrant Workers Act of 1995 and its amendatory law, Republic Act No. 10022, will not be affected.
Citing MIAA sources, Villar said over a billion pesos has been collected since the inclusion of terminal fees in air tickets. Half of this amount is still unclaimed by some OFWs making it part of the agency’s general fund, she added.
“We need an online platform that would make it easier for our OFWs to claim their refunds which may soon reach a billion pesos,” Villar ended./PN
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