Airport passengers to brace for higher fees

FLYING passengers will have to brace for higher terminal fees at the newest international airport in Misamis Oriental.

This, as the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (Caap) Tuesday held a public consultation in Cagayan de Oro on the proposed standardized terminal fee of P700 a passenger going international destinations in all international airports in the country including that in Laguindingan town in Misamis Oriental.

The Laguindingan (International) Airport is scheduled to officially start its operations on April 30, this year.

CAGAYAN DE ORO. Stall keepers proudly pose with their locally-made food products at City Hall’s product exposition Tuesday. (Loui S. Maliza)

Regino V. Hofilena, Caap’s chairperson of the committee on fees and charges, said the one-time proposed P700 terminal fee is reasonable considering that the Aviation department would have to wait for three years to propose another fee hike.

“Pero hindi rin kasi basta-basta makahingi ng increase kasi maraming daraanan ang (increase) proposal,” Hofilena told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro after the half-day public hearing inside a popular restaurant here.

The forum was well-attended by representatives from the Aviation department, non-government organizations, airline companies and different business groups in Northern Mindanao and Caraga Region.

He cited the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) with present terminal fee is pegged at P550 and the Iloilo International Airport, Caap is also set to increase terminal fees to P700.

“Maraming dadaanan. Maraming process (proposal to increase). Isa na ang public consultation, which result we are going to submit to our Director General. It will also pass through the board composed of members of the cabinet… Tourism department (etc),” he added.

Recommends postponing

Like what the business sector and other groups in Northern Mindanao clamored with the scheduled Laguindingan airport’s opening in April 30, Hofilena would also recommend postponing the airport opening pending the installation of necessary modernized air navigational facilities.

At the public consultation, the Aviation authority official noted that most attendees are more concerned on their safety should the Laguindingan airport starts its operation “prematurely.”

“Although it’s with the higher ups to decide (of the opening schedule), but we can recommend for the postponement. Although wala na kaming magawa, but we can recommend,” he said.

Asked of his honest opinion about using the visual flight rules (VFR), the Caap official said: “It’s a facility which is as far as your eyes can see.”

He did not anymore elaborate.