By Azer N. Parrocha
MANILA, Oct 31 (PNA) — The integration of the terminal fee into the cost of airline tickets was postponed anew after a temporary restraining order (TRO) on its implementation was issued by a Pasay City court on Friday.
In a two-page order signed by presiding judge Tingaraan Guiling, the court restrained the integration of the Php 550 terminal fee, which was supposed to be scheduled Nov. 1.
“The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) are hereby restrained to implement Memorandum Circular No. 8, which ordered the integration, for at least 20 days,” the order noted.
It also ordered a hearing for the preliminary mandatory injunction on Nov. 17, 8:30 am.
Before the TRO was issued, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) announced that there would be no further delays in the integration.
The MIAA, in a separate statement meanwhile said that it was ready to comply with the order of the court.
“In view of the TRO issued by the Court on the integration of the International Passenger Service Charge (or better known as Terminal Fee), the MIAA is hereby suspending its implementation,” MIAA said in a statement.
Earlier this week, overseas Filipino worker (OFW) groups sought the assistance of the Pasay court to issue a TRO against the integration of terminal fees in airline tickets for being “illegal.”
According to groups, the procedure violated the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Act of 1995 (RA 1022), which exempts OFWs from paying tax and airport fee as long as proof of entitlement is proven. (PNA)