OFW Party List Representative Marissa “Del Mar” Magsino filed House Resolution 1105 today to address the concerns repeatedly raised by airline passengers, especially by Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW), on the terrible service of domestic airlines.
“There have been consistent and perennial complaints from air passengers in and out of the country against a number of domestic airlines, of being offloaded due to overbooking, flight delays and cancellations without timely and valid explanations, long queues, mobile app glitches, lost baggage, unnecessary security checks, lackluster or unresponsive customer assistance service, and other operational issues that make travel to and out of the country a disappointing and frustrating experience,” said Magsino.
Acknowledging the growing dissatisfaction among airline passengers, especially OFWs, regarding the terrible service offered by domestic airlines, OFW Party List Rep. Marissa “Del Mar” Magsino filed HR 1105 to investigate these issues with the end in view of addressing it for the benefit and protection of the air travelling public and in pursuit of national economic development goals relative to commercial aviation and air travel.
One of the biggest sectors affected by the declining quality of airline services is the OFW sector. Instances of revoked overseas employment contracts, penalties, and employer repercussions resulting from delayed or failed arrivals at worksites have been reported, undermining the commitment and contributions of OFWs.
“Napakalaking bahagi ng labor migration ang ating aviation industry. Ang mga pagbabago sa presyo ng flights, kaguluhan sa schedules, pati mga aberya sa ating mga paliparan, ay may direktang epekto sa kabuhayan ng ating mga OFW. Mayroon na iyan mga schedule kung kailan sila dapat magsimula sa trabaho o kaya ‘return to work order’. Kapag nakansela ang flights nila sa ano mang dahilan, hindi lang simpleng inconvenience ang dulot nito sa ating mga OFWs kung hindi paglalagay ng kanilang mismong trabaho sa alanganin,” said Magsino.
In the previous Senate Committee Hearing on Res. No. 575 (Airline Passengers’ Complaints Against Cebu Pacific for Overbooking, Offloading, and Booking Glitches) by the Committee on Tourism joint with Public Services, Mr. Rafael Bartolome, an OFW based in Qatar joined the discussion as he experienced multiple flight cancellations on his travel to and from the Philippines last August. His case was endorsed to the Senate Committee on Tourism by the OFW Party List.
Another report received by the OFW Party List is that of an OFW from Saudi Arabia who was meted a 7-day salary deduction due to his missed flight, which the airline rebooked from June 6 to June 12, 2023.
The party list lawmaker also said these air travel-related incidents complained of have also resulted to various damages to affected air passengers such as loss of business opportunities and income, missed out family and social events, additional expenses incurred, accommodation difficulties, as well as physical and psych emotional stress.
“Due to the nature of their business which is endowed with public interest and duty, airline companies are required to observe exacting standards in accommodating their passengers with due regard to their welfare, convenience and safety. They are required extraordinary diligence, and accordingly, extraordinary service. However, their bad service not only negatively impact air passengers, but also undermine critical pillars of our economy: our tourism industry and labor migration,” said Magsino.
Through the filing of HR 1105, Magsino also hopes to ensure that the Air Passenger Bill of Rights, other commercial aviation and air travel-related laws and regulations, including airlines and airport operations protocols, are strictly implemented, or evaluated for necessary changes to mitigate the occurrence of the incidents complained of, to secure compensation in favor of affected passengers in similar occurrences in the future, and for the general protection of the travelling public, and to promote the progressive development of existing air transportation policies as they relate to tourism and national economic development.
