House panel OKs bill vs costly airfare, delayed flights

MANILA, Philippines -  A committee of the House of Representatives has approved a Malacañang-backed consolidated measure that seeks to stop airlines from imposing costly airfares and preponderance of delayed flights.

House Bills 5031, 5093, 2171 and 4838 all aim to establish an Ease of Doing Business Commission, a one-stop shop where offices from national and local agencies will receive payments and issue appropriate clearances or licenses. 

Lawmakers believe the measure will simplify the complex and time-consuming process of obtaining permits and licenses to cut red tape and stop the market stranglehold of the country’s two top airlines.

The House earlier warned Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines (PAL) against imposing costly airfares and delayed flights, and vowed to come out with legislation that would give passengers a respite. 

“Tell your corporate bosses that I will review your franchise. We can amend your franchise anytime. You make a killing and we are at your mercy. You are taking advantage of the riding public,” House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas warned.  

Every week, Fariñas, representative of Ilocos Norte, flies from Laoag to Manila to report to Congress.

“We (lawmakers) are your clients on a regular basis. And my downtime with PAL perhaps on an average weekly basis is at a minimum of two to five hours,” he said.

The House committee on trade and industry headed by Iloilo Rep. Ferjenel Biron has approved the consolidated bills.

The consolidated measure is principally authored by Biron and co-authored by Representatives Arthur Yap of Bohol, Vilma Santos-Recto of Batangas, Peter Unabia of Misamis Oriental, and Winston Castelo of Quezon City.

The measure is expected to create a business environment that will be attractive to both local and foreign investors. Malacañang has commended the House’s approval of the bill.