PALEA scores GMA on ‘open skies’ policy

The union members of the Philippine Airlines scored yesterday the Arroyo government for implementing the open skies policy which they said will spell the demise of the local aviation industry.

"The policy that we have protested in the past will terminate the remaining lifelines of our jobs and that of the country’s flag carrier," the Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA) said.

The union members pointed out that open skies and the aviation deregulation policies are detrimental to the interest of the local aviation, and would spell "death" to the local airline industry as they favor foreign airlines. They also said that as it is, PAL is already reeling from the effects of the economic downtrend, and with the implementation of the open skies and aviation deregulation policies, PAL maybe forced to close shop.

If the worst scenario happens, the union members said they would all lose their jobs. This is the reason, they said, that prompted them to continue their protest against the implementation of the policies as "what is at stake here is our own livelihood and survival."

Countries like the United States protect their flag carriers by bailing out their ailing airline companies, said Nida Villagracia, PALEA president. "In our case, it is the reverse," she said.

Villagracia disclosed that a Cabinet member had an interest in putting up another airline company which she said could be the reason behind the implementation of the open skies and aviation deregulation policy aimed at "killing PAL even as she scored the Arroyo government for "insensitivity" to the flight of the thousands of PAL employees.