NAIA to collect $5 security fee in 2006

[qman]

NAIA to collect $5 security fee in 2006

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THE Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) hopes to earn an estimated P7 billion in five years from the new $5 "security fee" it would require beginning next year from international passengers departing the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

The MIAA is ready to submit this proposal to the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) after holding a second hearing attended by the Airline Operators Council (AOC), the Board of Airline Representatives (BAR) and travel operators.

The MIAA has a yearly passenger volume of about eight million passengers, although about half of them – like overseas Filipino workers and government officials - would be exempted from paying the fee.

Computed at around P275 times four million passengers, the MIAA’s take would be about P110 million a year, an amount expected to rise because tourist arrivals are on the upswing.

MIAA said the fee would be added on top of the existing airline fee and would be used to buy a "broad CCTV security system, an intruder alarm system, a centralized accessed system, wider fiber optic network, upgrade of all checkpoints, protective gears and passenger profiling system" to secure the country’s premier airport from potential terrorist threats.

But the AOC, which represents all 32 international airlines operating at the NAIA, is not happy with the five-year period for the collection of the fee, saying MIAA does not need that long a time to generate enough funds to buy anti-terrorist equipment.

It also balked at the collection of the fee only at NAIA and not in the alternate international airports around the country which also host several international flights.

Airport sources said the AOC would prefer that representatives of the traveling public and all those that would be directly affected by the new fee be present at the hearings, seeing that travelers here, unlike in other countries, are also required to pay a P1,860 travel tax.

The airline representatives also objected to the MIAA’s proposal to use part of the money to relocate squatters, saying that "the relocation of squatters is a responsibility of the state and airline travelers should not be dunned to provide the fund for that kind of activity."

The AOC and the BAR also proposed that the fee be lowered to only $2 per person or less, saying that in the US, the security fee is only $2.50, while in Hong Kong, the fee is $1.55.

The MIAA justified that the new fee as a requirement of the International Civil Aviation Organization (Icao).

The fee is on top of the existing fuel surcharge and "war insurance" imposed following the 9/11 terrorist bombings in the United States.

MIAA general manager Alfonso Cusi said the imposition of the fee is urgent and long overdue, adding that all other international airports have long implemented the fee. He said they have been financing improvements in security measures using corporate funds but although MIAA earns some P5 billion annually, it cannot sustain the security expenses in the long term. – Jay Chua

[qman]

Nice.... Dorobo

[theveed]

Kapal talaga ng mukha...

Clark din ba?

[erict]

lahat yata ng mga government fees eh magtataas by next year, parang may nakasalang na yatang bill sa Senate..not sure kung EO lang eh pwede na ito.

[zero]

manggagancho talaga mga bata ni arrovo.

[GlennSter]

grabe..wala ako masay.tamang tama sa pag alis naming pamilya...

25 f*cking dollars just to use the stinking airport na bastos ang mga nagbabantay.dami ko nakikitang lalaki at opisyal nag nag checheck ambabastos sa mga babaeng dayuhan porket hindi sila naiintindihan ng mga ito.di na nahiya at kung tratuhin eh parang aso.

"tanggalin mo sapatos mo bingi ka ba!?" <<sabi nung nagbabantay after ng xray

"pare kita mo pwet nun!?"< pabulong ng isa pa.

"sinabi nang bawal ang nailcutter eh"<<< duh

security fee pala ha!!!

hindi na ako magbibigay sa customs na humaharang sakin lagi at nanghihingi ng "PASALUBONG" na dolyar.lech

[yebo]

a rovo!

[Altis6453]

I think the security fee is unreasonable considering that they already raised the terminal fees. IMHO, security is an incidental expense of an airport and should not be passed on to travelers.

I also believe that they should be more mindful of the behavior and attitude of security personnel towards travelers. While airport operations personnel and security are generally kind towards tourists, they treat OFWs like crap.

Security fee? Wow. I bet a privatized airport can be run more efficiently than government. :mad:

[mazdamazda]

magbasa ng mabuti bago humirit...

The MIAA has a yearly passenger volume of about eight million passengers, although about half of them – like overseas Filipino workers and government officials - would be exempted from paying the fee.

[1D4LV]

hmmm. tentative travel expenses mo...

airfare + vat (kung domestic)
terminal fee (is this also subjected to VAT?)
now is the security fee... (5 USD? malaki laki din ito ah.... 250+++ pesos?)