Senator Villar scolds MIAA chief for implementing fee without consultation

MANILA, Philippines—Sen. Cynthia Villar gave an official of the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) a dressing down on Tuesday for implementing a memorandum circular that integrates the P550 airport terminal fee to the airline tickets without consultations.

Sen. Cynthia Villar. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Villar vented her ire at MIAA General Manager Jose Angel Honrado during the hearing of the Senate committee on government corporations and public enterprises which she chairs.

“Nag-issue kayo ng MIAA order, bakit hindi kayo nag-hearing dito, nag-consultation dito para naintindihan nila kung ano ba ang balak nyo? Basta nag-issue kayo nito, hindi ko nga maintindihan kung ano ang balak nyo dito. Bakit? Nagi-interest ba kayo dun sa P1 billion na additional income sa inyo … yun ang pumapasok sa isip ko kaya anong-ano kayo dito, hot na hot kayo dito,” she said.

“Sinasabi na sa inyo, nakikiusap na lahat ng tao sa inyo na i-recall n’yo at magplano kayo ng bago na convenient for everybody. Ayaw nyo. Tinitigasan mo. Ayaw mo. Bakit? Bakit, ano ba ang concern mo dito bakit ayaw mong makinig sa amin? Bakit? Bakit ka ayaw mong makinig sa amin,” the senator said, directing her questions to Honrado, who was present in the hearing.

MIAA General Manager Jose Angel Honrado. MIAA.GOV.PH

“Yun ba namang thinking ng 20 senador, thinking ng DFA, DOLE, POEA, tapos ikaw may sarili kang thinking pinagpipilitan mo ayaw mo kaming tulungan dito? Papagurin mo ako ditong mag-hearing linggo-linggo para mag-away tayo dito? Parang hindi ka naman naawa sa akin,” Villar said.

Her remarks were interrupted by laughter and applause from the people in the hearing room.

Villar specifically wants overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to be exempted from the said circular, which took effect on Feb. 1.

“My advocacy is to help OFWs. That has been our advocacies for how many years, 23 years? Eh ako in-assign nila dito … and I will do everything for you to recall this order. Magpapahirapan tayo dito, maghe-hearing tayo dito lingo-linggo kung kelangan para mo i-recall ito,” she said.

“Bakit mo ako pinapahirapan ng ganun? Ano ang nagawa namin sayo para pahirapan mo kami? Bakit hindi mo i-recall at dapat gumawa ka ng system na it will be convenient for everybody…?”

“Kasi ako ayoko sa’yong makipag-away GM Honrado. Pagod ako, ang dami pang gagawin namin ni Koko. Sana i-recall mo na lang ito so we don’t have to go through this process …” the senator said, referring to Sen. Aqulino “Koko” Pimentel III, who was also present in the hearing.

Villar said she and Pimentel had been discussing the possibility of bringing the issue before the Supreme Court.