DOT chief’s open skies policy call draws flak

Even with his impending exit, Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim still raised the hackles of some tourist stakeholders with his appeal to his successor and other related agencies to continue supporting the administration’s “open skies policy.”

Cebuano travel executive Robert Lim Joseph, who called for Lim’s ouster a day before the secretary confirmed his resignation, said the open skies policy was among the reasons why he was not out of the Department of Tourism (DOT).

He said Executive Order No. 29 authorizing the Civil Aeronautics Board and the Philippine Air Panels to pursue the “Open Skies” policy that granted foreign airlines access to other airports other than the Ninoy Aquino International Airport is unfair to local carriers.

While the open skies policy won’t affect tourism in Cebu, Joseph said additional international flights would only compete with local carriers for Filipino outbound passengers.

In a previous statement, Cebu Pacific called on the government to exercise reciprocity in implementing the open skies policy.

It said the government should not skew the policy to favor foreign airlines at the expense of domestic airline firms.

Cebu Pacific President and CEO Lance Gokongwei said while they have benefitted from a deregulated industry, they maintain that the open skies policy should extend to foreign carries whose countries also give concessions to local carriers.

The same position was adopted by Philippine Airlines, the country’s national flag carrier.

Under the open skies policy foreign airlines can travel to and from the Philippines anytime they want, the only limit being airport space.

Local airline companies also expansion plans are derailed by the dismal conditions of the country’s airports.

“It is clear to both the government and the private sector that the existing network must be improved. This is the reason why airport projects are among those included in the government’s priority projects,” said Candice Iyog, Cebu Pacific vice president for marketing. /Reporter Candeze R. Mongaya with an Inquirer report