Dubai: Filipino expatriates welcomed the decision of Emirates to exempt them from paying Philippine airport terminal tax upon booking their flights online but they are appealing for other airlines to do the same.
Emirates on Thursday confirmed to Gulf News that it is complying with the Philippine laws to exempt Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) based abroad from paying the Philippine travel tax and terminal fees if they present overseas employment certificate (OEC) at the time of booking or prior to departure.
The move came following Philippine Labour Secretary Silvestre Bello III’s letter to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines last week instructing the agency to inform various carriers that Filipino workers are exempt by law from paying extra aviation fees.
Philippine carriers have yet to issue a statement on the matter.
The OFWs, from the very beginning, have been exempt from these fees until the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) on October 14 last year started collecting the fees through airline companies from all customers, including OFWs, who are buying tickets online. The move was supposed to decongest airports as fees were previously collected prior to departure.
The OFWs bound for the Philippines were then asked to refund their fees once they reach the Philippines. But not all do it due to lack of awareness or lack of time.
“I go on vacation at least twice a year. I’m not aware that we could get the fees refunded in the Philippines. So you can imagine how much money I’ve lost through the years,” Jesse Medina, 47, a businessman, told Gulf News. “So this development is a good news for us. It’s a blessing.”
Melanie Robles, who just came back from a short vacation in the Philippines, agreed that the exemption for OFWs should be honoured and reinstated.
“When I bought my ticket, I was advised not to forget to get my Dh50 refunded. I got it refunded and my experience was better this time compared to the first time I got the airport tax refunded. Back then, there was a long queue and we were already about to miss our flight,” Robles said.
“I can very well say that many OFWs no longer get their fees refunded because it’s a hassle and they’re already late for their flights.”
Geoffrey Salatan, Philippine support desk manager at Airlink International, said the reinstatement of the fee exemption is a good move and is long overdue.
The travel agent said many Filipinos often are not able to get their fees refunded when they reach home despite repeated reminders to do so.
“We advise them to be at the airport four hours prior to their flight and not just three so they can still have time to get their refunds. For those who don’t get to do so, our question is, where do the funds go?” Salatan said. “It’s high time these exemptions be made in all airlines for the sake of uniformity.”
A random check on the ticketing system of three airlines on Thursday revealed that Manila-bound flights still charge the fees but those flying to Clark, Pampanga and Cebu have made the exemption.
