The Manila International Airport Authority (Miaa) and air carriers operating at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport have signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) that will exempt all overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from paying the so-called international passenger service charge, commonly referred to as terminal fee, at any point of sale abroad beginning on April 30.
Under the revised integration project, OFW exemption shall be honored upon face-to-face purchase of tickets from airline ticketing offices or agents overseas.
“As they buy their ticket from a ticketing office, travel agency or ticketing outlet, one has to state or declare that he is an OFW for exemption to be recognized,” Miaa chief Ed Monreal said.
“The selling agent may or may not ask for a proof of entitlement during transaction. The OFW, however, shall be able to present one during check-in upon his departure from Manila,” he added.
The inclusion of the terminal fee into the cost of airline ticket was implemented in February 15, 2015, but was met with opposition from OFW sectoral and advocacy groups.
The OFWs were also required then to go through a refund process in Manila to claim the P550 charged to them by default for tickets bought online or abroad.
This claim is anchored on Section 35 of Republic Act 8042, otherwise known as the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995, which mandates exemption of migrant workers from payment of travel tax and airport fee upon showing of proof of entitlement by the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency.
Even the proof of entitlement has been expanded under the new agreement to include documents under the Balik Manggagawa exemption, which includes valid employment contract or most recent pay slip, among others. Previously, only the Overseas Employment Certificate is honored as proof of entitlement.
The new rule shall also pave the way soon for online purchase of tickets for OFWs.
“While some airlines have already agreed to tweak their system, it will take a while owing to the tedious process of doing the tweaking. We are positive however that online purchase can start within the year, ” Monreal said.
The agreement is seen as a compliance to President Duterte’s directive to the Department of Transportation to give priority attention to OFWs by giving them a seamless and hassle-free experience at the airport.
An average of 2.5 million OFWs pass through the Naia airport every year.
Present during during signing ceremony are DOTr Secretary Art Tugade who stands as witness to the signing, together with OFW Party List Rep. Aniceto “John” Bertiz III.
Also invited to the event are Secretary Yasmin Busran-Lao of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos, Acting POEA Administrator Undersecretary Dominador Say and Overseas Workers Welfare Administrator Hans Cacdac.