Saturday, June 16, 2007 Debate ensues on open skies By Tyra Nell E. Pille Sun.Star Correspondent
REPRESENTATIVES of different sectors in tourism and in the airline industry have mixed views about the issue on whether or not the government should liberalize air transport to allow foreign carriers to operate in the country.
Discussion on the open skies policy —liberalization of air transport— during the first day of the Cebu Business Month Asean Tourism Congress last Thursday even became heated with forum participants raising the need for a level playing field, reciprocal arrangements, sovereignty and global competitiveness, among other issues.
But while the National Government has yet to make a decision to adopt an open sky policy, airline industry representatives ask Cebuanos to lobby for the approval of a bill declaring Cebu as a “pocket open sky.”
The bill filed by Rep. Raul del Mar (Cebu City north) was not approved by the Senate in the 12th Congress. Del Mar, who has been re-elected, had said he will re-file the bill.
Market forces
Narzalina Lim, Asia Pacific Inc. president, said air transport should be liberalized so the country’s tourism industry can keep up with those of other countries but the move should be determined by market forces.
“The market should be the one that determines (which) airline can fly or not and not the government,” she said during the Tourism Congress.
She cited Siam Reap, Cambodia whose tourist arrivals rose to 1.3 million last year from 20,000 in 1999 to 2000, after adopting an open skies policy.
According to the Association for Asia Research, an open skies policy for cargo and passenger services can lead to expanded growth in international aviation and create new businesses. It said growth in aviation services results in increased travel and trade, productivity, high-quality job opportunities and economic growth.
“Open skies does this by reducing government interference in the commercial decisions of air carriers, thereby freeing them to provide market-oriented affordable, convenient and efficient air service for consumers,” the research group stated in a study on open skies.
The Philippines mulled entering into an open skies agreement with the United States in 1982 but did not push through. About 74 countries have already signed open skies agreements with the US.
Sovereignty, fairness
But Robert Lim Joseph of the National Association of Independent Travel Agencies raised concerns on sovereignty and the need for fairness in the implementation of an open skies policy and .
“We are concerned about our aviation industry just want fairness and equal treatment. We want fair skies and fair trade.
Giving foreign entities undue advantage over our local carriers smacks of disloyalty to one’s country and an obvious sell-out,” he said. His remark drew applause from many congress participants.
Joseph, one of the panelists in the discussion on open skies, said “there’s nothing wrong with a liberalized air policy or even open skies provided it is reciprocal and there is a fair exchange between contracting parties in a bilateral set-up.”
“I am against unilaterally granting access rights to foreign airlines without clear guarantee that their governments would grant the same concessions to the Philippine carriers,” he said.
Several foreign airlines were granted landing rights in the country, but they have not established operations here for lack of passenger or cargo traffic.
Joseph also said while local carriers promote the Philippines abroad, foreign airlines don’t. He added that foreign airlines promote their countries instead.
“We have given away our mining rights, our oil and gas deposits in the Spratly’s, soon some of our sea rights. Now we want to give away our air rights. What will happen to our country?” Joseph asked.
“We may grant privilege if we are forced to, but we cannot surrender our rights because once they are given it is difficult to get them back without a costly exchange,” he said.
