'Mikey' warns vs open skies policy

Manila Bulletin, Jan 9, 2011

MANILA, Philippines - As the local airline industry awaits with caution anytime this week President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino's issuance of an executive order paving the way for the adoption of open skies policy, former presidential son and now Ang Galing Pinoy Rep. Juan Miguel "Mikey" Arroyo Sunday warned the Palace against the adverse repercussion that a new presidential edict might bring."The adoption of an open skies policy should be carefully studied first before being implemented," Arroyo said."First issue we have to address is: Do we really need an open skies policy? Or are foreign airlines really asking for such policy?" Arroyo stressed.Arroyo said that in Cebu alone, there are no less than 40 airlines which have applied for direct access to its airport and which have been approved but so far, only three airlines are availing of the direct access to the Cebu International Airport."So, why adopt an open skies policy when in Cebu alone, airlines have not exploited their direct access pass to its airport? Maybe it's not an open skies policy these airlines need.Maybe we have to ask them directly what really do they need," said Arroyo.Arroyo also brushed aside claims by the administration the open skies policy will help bolster the country's tourism industry."It's not the number of airlines operating in the country that is the behind the lackluster performance of the tourism industry in the Philippines but the country's negative image abroad, especially in the area of peace and order and security which was further aggravated by the hostage-taking fiasco.""In Clark alone, which was declared open by the previous administration, while the number of passengers increased, the increase in the influx of tourists was insignificant as the increase in the number of passengers have been attributed largely to OFWs from Central and Northern Luzon who have used the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport as take-off and landing points to and from their country of destinations," Arroyo noted."Maybe this administration should revisit their data," he added.What the administration should do, according to Arroyo, is that aside from addressing the country's peace and order issue, is to acquire a Category 1 status in terms of international aviation safety standards from its present Category 2 rating, which would make it at par with other Western countries.A Category 2 status means the country is in the same standard level as many African nations.Representatives from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines have been insisting that the country must be able to guarantee first that it would comply with internationally acceptable aviation standards as well as security and safety measures before the government implements an open skies policy that would fully liberalize the civil aviation industry.And assuming the country acquires Category 1 status and is all ready and set up to implement an open skies policy, Arroyo said the administration should ensure "the terms and rules should be clear so that we would not end up in the losing end.""If we are to allow foreign airlines to have direct access to our airports, then they should also allow our airlines to have direct access to their airports, too," Arroyo said.

"There should be a reciprocity clause.""The open skies policy should not be a one-way traffic, otherwise instead of creating new jobs as this administration claims this executive order would generate, it would kill the local airline industry which would result to massive lay-offs," said Arroyo.