FOLLOWING the airline’s alleged mismanagement and mishandling of its scheduled trips during the Christmas holidays, a resolution urging the House of Representatives to impose legislative action such as revocation of franchise against Cebu Pacific, is set to be filed on Monday. Liberal Party Rep. Ben Evardone of Samar said that Cebu Pacific mismanagement on December 24, 25 and 26, last year, which led to long queues, flight delays and cancellations should be investigated.
Evardone’s resolution will direct the House Committee on Transportation and Committee on Legislative Franchise to conduct investigation into the possible violations of Republic Act (RA) 7151 and related law by Cebu Air Inc.
“Congress has, in Republic Act 7151, granted Cebu Air Inc., its successors or assigns, a franchise to establish, operate and maintain transport services for the carriage of passengers, mail, goods and property by air, both domestic and international,” the draft resolution said.
The resolution said that under the same law, the franchise granted to Cebu Air Inc., is subject to the provisions of the Constitution, applicable laws and regulations.
“Congress may amend or repeal the franchise granted to Cebu Air, Inc., when the common good so requires [under RA 7151],” he said.
Cebu Air Inc., a subsidiary of JG Summit Holdings, currently operates under the name Cebu Pacific Air (or commonly Cebu Pacific).
Evardone said there have been complaints by paying passengers on Cebu Pacific’s poor services, resulting in long queues, flight delays and cancellations without due notice, overbooking, among others, even on Christmas holidays, on December 24, 25 and 26, 2014. “No weather disturbance in Metro Manila was reported on December 24, 25 and 26, 2014, that would excuse Cebu Pacific from its mandate to transport goods and passengers,” he said.
The lawmaker, citing news report, said that Cebu Pacific’s alleged operational mishandling or mismanagement on abovementioned dates due to apparent lack of contingency plan to address the deluge of passengers, especially at the Ninoy Aquino International airport Terminal 3, on these Christmas days, resulting in some passengers not able to fly out and spend the holidays with their families and friends.
“As grantors of the franchise, it is incumbent upon this august body to check on the conduct of Cebu Air, Inc., as grantee and terminate the franchise for the common good,” he said.