Overseas Filipino Workers in Italy will hold a signature campaign on January on the Manila International Airport policy of integrating the International Passengers Service Charge (IPSC) or airport terminal fee in airline fees.
The group headed by Task Force International migrant leader Junn Landicho in an e-mail communication, said the signup on January 25 is set at 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Basilica de Santa Pudenziana, the national church of Filipinos in Rome. According to Landicho the scheme is against the Migrant Workers of RA 8042 as amended by RA 1002 which prohibits collecting from legitimate OFWs a travel tax and airport terminal fee.
He said over two million OFWs traveling to the Philippines for their vacation or renewal of contracts would buy tickets online or at airline ticket offices abroad to include the integrated P550 airport terminal fee.
Landicho said that his group would be joining the “NO to 550 terminal fee coalition” along with recruitment industry, migrant groups and advocates led by the Blas Ople Policy Center.
The airport terminal fee ntegration was contained in a memorandum from Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) General Manager Jose Angel Honrado and addressed to all airlines and concerned stakeholders that will took effect starting February 1,2015.
Under the scheme, the services of the air carriers will be engaged in the collection of the IPSC through its inclusion in the airline ticket.
The scheme will recognize all exemptions mandated by law including OFWs, Muslim pilgrims endorsed by the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos, athletes endorsed by the Philippine Sports Commission and others authorized by the Office of the President.
Exemption at the point of sale shall be subject to the presentation of an exemption certificate issued by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration or the MIAA. Children aged two years and below are also exempted from the IPSC.