QA should be allowed to double flights to Manila, says envoy

AILYN AGONIA

DOHA QATAR Airways should be allowed to increase the frequency of its flights to the Philippines, said Filipino envoy to Qatar HE Crescente Relacion, on Monday.

Relacion was responding to a query regarding the proposal made by the Qatari government to the Philippines last year to double up its current 14 flights due to high market demand.

“I don’t see any reason why we (the Philippines) should not allow this when we have already allowed the UAE’s Etihad Airlines to double its flights to 28 a week and Saudia Airlines to increase its flights thrice from seven to 21 a week,” Relacion told the media on the sidelines of the programme commemorating the 27th Anniversary of EDSA People Power Revolution, held at the Philippine embassy.

Terming the Qatari offer as ‘attractive’, the envoy added that Qatar’s national carrier even proposed to open additional flights during off peak hours so as not to add-up to the congestion at the airports.

Congestion at the passenger terminal and at the runways is a foremost aviation concern in the Philippines.

“The Philippine flag carrier, Philippine Airlines (PAL), which plans to begin its Doha flights from October, will not open here if it does not see market opportunity. In other words, there is still market for additional flights. We are living in a highly-competitive world and I am for open skies policy. I feel, Qatar’s proposal is a welcome development,” he said.

Relacion said that more flights by Qatar Airways to the Philippines could lead to more Qataris and European travellers flying to the Philippines to explore the country.

Meanwhile, Relacion said an agreement on mutual protection and promotion of business, which would assure Qatari investors of the protection of their investments in the Philippines, was likely to be signed by the two countries soon.

He also announced that a team of officials from the Department of Labour and Employment (DOLE) and the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency (POEA) will visit Qatar next month for a joint commission meeting on labour issues. The meeting will address the concerns of both sides on the employment of Filipino workers and also implementation of $400 minimum wage for domestic helpers.

“This minimum wage has been there since January of 2007. However, some recruitment agencies in the Philippines and in Qatar are refusing to implement the minimum wage by tampering with workers’ original contracts.

This time the POEA insists on strict implementation of the long-standing policy,” the envoy said.

On the occasion of the 27th EDSA People Power Revolution, Relacion urged his compatriots to recognise the legacy of the event which ended the regime of then president Ferdinand Marcos.

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