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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 13) A lawmaker has filed a bill seeking a ₱40-billion relief package for pandemic-battered Philippine air carriers.
House Bill No. 9324 or the Air Carriers Relief Act was filed by House Economic Affairs chairperson Rep. Sharon Garin. It shall recognize the vital role of the transportation sector in facilitating the flow of goods, people and investment. Towards this end, it shall be a priority of the government to provide reliefs for any threat to the existence of the air transport sector by extending loan payments, interest free loans, loan guarantees and regulatory reliefs during this challenging time of pandemic, the bill read.
Local air carriers bat for increased accommodations for inbound passengers, nix cutdown on arrivals
Published March 17, 2021 2:46pm By TED CORDERO, GMA News The Air Carriers Association of the Philippines (ACAP) raised concern over the recent government decision to suspend the entry of foreign nationals and returning overseas Filipinos who are non-OFWs into the country and to limit the number of inbound international passengers to 1,500 a day, as this could further hurt the already distressed airline industry. During the Senate committee on banks and financial institutions’ hearing on the Government Financial Institutions Unified Initiatives to Distressed Enterprises for Economic Recovery (GUIDE) bill Wednesday, ACAP vice chairman Roberto Lim said the local aviation industry has incurred an estimated loss of P65 billion last year due to travel restriction amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Local airlines call on the government to relax restrictions and promote domestic travel as firms seek a way out from gaping losses due to the COVID-19 crisis.