PAL strike costs tuna traders P50m a day

Manila Standard Today
by Eric Apolonio

The prolonged labor-management dispute at the Philippine Airlines has dealt losses to traders, travel operators and hoteliers in South Cotabato, Saranggani and General Santos City, with the tuna industry foregoing P50 million a day in shipment that did not reach buyers because of cancelled flights.

This was revealed by regional businessmen at the Tourism Congress held during the weekend in General Santos City.

Tourism Congress’ vice-president Jaime Cura said that the hoteliers, resort owners and other association members posted losses in terms of foregone booking, with occupancy rates plunging by 50% -70%.

“This was due to the cancelled hotel bookings for conferences, banquets, and other functions for out-of-town groups and entities that had been previously confirmed,” said Cura.

“The local chamber of commerce revealed that the tuna industry alone suffered losses of around P50 million a day, the corresponding value of a daily shipment stock of about 20-26 tons of tuna that did not reach the buyers because of cancelled flights.”

The reports confirmed the concerns aired by the Tourism Congress about the dire effects of the wildcat strike and other forms of work stoppage staged by the PAL employees association three weeks ago, according to PAL vice-president Bong Cruz. These illegal acts have disrupted flight schedules or forced outright cancellation of many flights, Cruz said.

Cruz, who attended the regional consultation, expressed apology the to stakeholders and explained the causes of the labor dispute. He said the airline management has taken steps to resume regular flights.

Cura said the regional dialogue validated the need for cooperative arrangements among the various tourism sectors and enterprises in anticipation of emergencies and contingencies that may have adverse effects on tourism businesses.

“One of the immediate actions that can be implemented to mitigate the negative effects of crisis situations is for the concerned sector to promptly issue a situationer which the Tourism Congress can speedily circulate to the rest of its stakeholders,” he said. “This way, the situation can be handled by the other affected sectors and enable them to take stop-gap measures.”