A FINAL version of policies protecting the rights of air passengers is expected to be published this month, an official said yesterday said, adding that the rules now cover foreign airlines.
“The release [of the Passenger Bill of Rights] will take place any time soon, possibly this month,” Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) Executive Director Carmelo A. Arcilla said in a telephone interview yesterday.
This comes as the process needed to complete the crafting of the policy was executed in August.
“We have completed the process, public consultation and the recommendations from airlines, the draft was submitted to the DoTC (Department of Transportation and Communications) and DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) last month,” Mr. Arcilla said.
“The Passenger Bill of Rights is a joint department order of DoTC and DTI,” he added.
Sought for additional comments, Transportation Undersecretary Jose Perpetuo M. Lotilla also said that the Passenger Bill of Rights has been finalized.
“[I] Believe it was signed, but maybe not yet released,” Mr. Lotilla said in a text message yesterday, but did not elaborate if the policy has been signed by both outgoing Transportation Secretary Manuel A. Roxas II and Trade Secretary Gregory L. Domingo.
Mr. Lotilla also said the policy will take effect 15 days after the publication.
Meanwhile, Mr. Arcilla said there have been no major changes in the provisions of the final version except that it now covers foreign airlines.
“[This is] to protect both domestic and international passengers,” Mr. Arcilla said in a separate text message.
The earlier draft, which came out in July, only covers domestic airlines operating locally and internationally.
The draft, which burdens carriers on passenger inconvenience, include provisions such as: overbooking “shall be properly and rationally practiced, and done in utmost good faith; getting the consent of passengers when bumping them off due to overbooking; and disclosures on promo fares should occupy not less than 30% of the advertising materials with explanations written in both English and Filipino.
Also stipulated in the draft were: compensation for lost checked-in baggage pegged at $20 per kilo and $400 for hand-carried baggage; a $75,000 compensation for “death, wounding, and bodily injury;” and installation of at least one check-in counter for persons with disabilities.
Sought for comment, Steven Crowdy, first chairman of Board of Airline Representatives, said that foreign carriers are disappointed in their inclusion in the policy.
“We are disappointed to see the inclusion of international carriers in the revised draft and remain hopeful that the final order will again exclude foreign carriers,” Mr. Crowdy said in an e-mail yesterday.
“International carriers already operate under conditions imposed by their respective regulatory authorities which will often conflict with the draft Philippine order,” he said.
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Source: Cliff Harvey C. Venzon, BusinessWorld. (4 September 2012)
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