MANILA, 3 September — Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) will be exempted from the payment of terminal fees at the state-of-the-art Terminal 3 at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), the Philippine International Air Terminals Co (Piatco) said.
“OFWs will continue to be exempted from payment of the terminal fee because of their important contributions to the Philippine economy as modern-day heroes,” Piatco spokesman Moises Tolentino said.
Tolentino issued the statement at the Senate investigation into Piatco’s contract for the construction of Terminal 3.
He said the exemption for OFWs is the airport concessionaire’s “humble tribute to the sacrifices and heroism of the OFWs.”
He also assured oppositors of the terminal that the $20 (P1,040) for regular passengers is not excessive.
Tolentino explained that 36 percent or $7.20 (P374.40) of the total amount would go to the government and 64 percent or $12.80 (P665.60) would go to the contractor-operator.
“Considering that the airport terminal is world-class and top-of-the-line with modern and luxurious facilities, placing it at a level with the most modern airports in the world, like those in Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan, the supposed increase in terminal fees from the present P500 is insignificant indeed,” Tolentino further elaborated.