DAVAO CITY—The local government here is pushing for the incorporation of the Davao International Airport (DIA) terminal fee in the airline-ticket cost to avoid further inconvenience during flight schedule.
It is requesting the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (Caap) to approve the scheme pending the approval in Congress of House Bill (HB) 6693, “An Act creating the Davao International Airport Authority Inc.”
Mylene Garcia-Albano, Davao City’s Second District representative and author of HB 6693, said the Caap is expected to undertake the control, management and supervision of the airport now that the Aquino administration has adopted the “open sky” policy.
Albano said the bill’s approval will pave the way for the creation of a board which will have full control of decision-making and budgeting. It will also have the power to levy and collect dues, charges, fees or assessments for the use of the airport, invest its idle funds and exercise police authority.
“Incorporating the terminal fee in the amount of the purchased ticket will make the process more efficient for both domestic and international travelers,” Councilor Leonardo Avila III, chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Communication, said.
Avila said this is already being practiced in the airports in Manila and Cebu which already have their own airport authorities. It is important that this is done here considering the number of passengers that pass through the Davao airport every day,” he said.
“There are 54 flights at the Davao International Airport on a daily basis and with only 200 passengers per flights that would mean 10,000 passengers lining up to pay their terminal fees at a single window every day,” Avila said.
The airport’s terminal fee is one of the major sources of income with the following collection rate: P227 million in 2010, P267 million in 2011 and P284 million in 2012.
Avila said the separate payment of terminal fees, which is being done at the Davao airport before the passenger leaves, has proven to be difficult not only for airport personnel but more important, for passengers.
Some passengers no longer have budget for the terminal fees after they have shopped and toured the city and its nearby attractions.
Source: PNA
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