OFWs will not pay terminal fee by March 2017

PHILIPPINES – Starting march 2017, returning  overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) whose tickets were purchased abroad  will no longer have to pay terminal fees.

Ed Monreal, General manager of Manila International Airport Authority  on Monday, November 29, that airlines have “agreed in principle” to automatically relieved OFW’s from paying terminal fees.

As it is now, every  returning OFW is required to pay Php500 terminal fee which is integrated in their airfare tickets, upon arrival at the MIAA the same amount shall be refunded to them causing delays and inconvenience.

Under the Migrants Workers Act, OFWs are exempt from paying the P550- terminal fee or the International Passenger Service Charge (IPSC). But a MIAA rule in February 2015 required terminal fees to be paid with the ticket price when OFWs book online and abroad.

Currently, OFWs can get their refund  from the MIAA by presenting the required documents which include  their electronic ticket, boarding pass, and passport.

But in many cases, OFWs failed to claim their refund.

Cherie Mercado, spokesperson of the Department of Transportation explained the March implementation is provided to give the airline industry ample time to update their systems and programs for said policy.

 Mercado also revealed officials said that a more efficient slot management system is now being implemented to ensure that flight departures are on time.

Earlier on Captain Jim Sydiongco, Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, revealed the opening of additional night-rated  airports to such as Legazpi, Butuan, Dumaguete, and Caticlan to accommodate night flights before Christmas.