Arthur Tugade —JOAN BONDOC
If he had his way, Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade would like to raise the pay of workers in the aviation industry by at least 50 percent.
Tugade expressed this hope when he faced the hearing of the congressional oversight committee on Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) presided over by Senator Grace Poe on Monday.
“Tama po kayo, nawawala na nga ay may mga kaalaman sa may aviation dito sa Pilipinas at lumilipat pumupunta sa ibang sulok ng mundo. Tama ho yan,” he said.
This was the reason why, he said, they started to raise the pay in the aviation sector since last August last year.
“Hindi ho magagawang overnight yan. Magkakaroon ng phases at gradual phases. Naumpisahan na ho yan at hopefully overtime ang habol ko po nyan Madam chair and members of the committee, at least 50 percent maitaas yung sahod na mga natratabaho sa aviation lalo’t higit yung mga tinatawag sa tower,” Tugade said.
It was Poe who first mentioned about the ongoing “exodus of aviation professionals” in the country as she raised the issues around the benefits of CAAP employees which were disallowed by the Commission on Audit (COA).
“What are the most recent updates regarding the disallowance? This is important, especially given the ongoing exodus of aviation professionals. After all, competitive benefits are not sufficient. There must also be certainty of receipt,” Poe said in her opening statement.