A labor group blamed job contracting for Cebu Pacific Air’s 20 flight cancellations and 288 delayed flights in Manila from Dec. 24 to 26 last year even as the company said legal options are being weighed following the decision of the Civil Aeronautics Board to impose a P52-million fine.
“We have received CAB Resolution No. 4 (BM 01-01-12-2015), and are currently in the process of reviewing the document, and its attendant legal ramifications,” the firm said in a statement on Wednesday. “We note that there may be some matters of fact requiring clarification, and are evaluating all our options.”
The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines-Associated Labor Unions blamed outsourcing and hiring of contractual workers for the breakdown of Cebu Pacific’s service.
“The damage could have been greatly minimized--financially and reliability--if the situation was handled and managed by regular workers,” Gerard Seno, TUCP-ALU executive vice president, said in a statement.
“There is a big difference between the quality of work rendered by a regular worker than an outsourced and contractual one.”
The CAB made its ruling after Monday’s hearing attended by Cebu Pacific representatives, Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 manager Octavio Lina, and Manila International Airport assistant general manager Ricardo Medalla.
CAB executive director Carmelo Arcilla was quoted as saying that the fine would to national treasury despite clamor from displaced passengers to be compensated.
He said the Passenger Bill of Rights stated as recourse only rebooking, reimbursement and endorsement to another carrier.
According to Arcilla, the airline firm has cited air traffic congestion and terminal infrastructure deficiencies as contributory factors.
“The board therefore issued a strong reprimand and imposed a fine against Cebu Pacific in the amount of P52.110 million,” he said.
The board also required Cebu Pacific to establish and maintain appropriate service standards for all employees, organic and outsourced, especially in manning the check-in counters.
“The fine is based on the finding by the board that Cebu Pacific’s operational lapses and passenger manhandling constitute a breach of the basic condition of its certificate of public convenience and necessity, i.e. to provide proper, suitable, convenient, safe, adequate and reliable air transportation services,” Arcilla said. - By Alena Mae S. Flores, Vito Barcelo - Manila Statndard Today
Thursday, January 15, 2015
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
Guide Philippine leaders to govern responsibly, Pope urged
MANILA, Philippines - Labor group Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) on Wednesday appealed to Pope Francis to inspire government leaders to act responsibly in distributing the nation's wealth to all Filipinos.
TUCP- Associated Labor Unions Executive Vice President Gerard Seno said the Pope's visit to the Philippines will be a rare opportunity to reinvigorate the lives of the of the millions of Filipino workers.
"They are very eager to hear his voice and be renewed and empowered by the message of God. They need validation, meaning and purpose in the scheme of things," Seno said.
Seno also said workers expect Pope Francis to provide wisdom and guidance to Filipino politicians and government executives to govern effectively.
"Working people want to tell the Pope to share words of wisdom and guidance to elected and appointed government officials to give their highest best in carrying out their mandate to serve the public. They see Pope Francis as the right, the highest and the holiest person to inspire our leaders to lead in front in realizing the equitable sharing of the wealth of the nation," he said.
Pope Francis is set to arrive tomorrow, Jan. 15., for a five-day visit to the country. One of the main purpose of his trip is to see the condition of supertyphoon Yolanda survivors in Eastern Visayas. - By Dennis Carcamo (philstar.com)
LTFRB 7 - Central Visayas: Report fare violators
THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) urged the public to report any jeepney driver who refuses to honor the new P7 minimum fare that took effect yesterday so they can be investigated and penalized.
LTFRB 7 Acting Director Rey Elnar made the appeal after receiving reports that some jeepney drivers still collect not only P7.50, which was the previous official rate, but P8 because they would not give the P0.50 change.
Elnar said that once a passenger will file a complaint and submit the jeepney plate number, they will immediately summon the driver as well as the operator who will be both penalized under the Joint Administrative Order (JAO) 2014-001.
The order was jointly issued by the LTFRB, represented by Chairman Winston Gines; Land Transportation Office (LTO), represented by Assistant Secretary Alfonso Tan Jr.; and Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), represented by Secretary Antonio Abaya last year.
It provides the penalties for overcharging at P5,000 for the first offense, P10,000 for the second offense and P15,000 plus suspension of the certificate of public convenience (franchise) for the third offense.
Gines said the operators should make sure that their drivers have followed the new fare rate, as they will also be made answerable for the offense of their drivers.
On the other hand, Arthur Barrit of the Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines said the labor group will file a new petition seeking for a P5 or P6 minimum fare rate because the price of diesel, as of yesterday, was already sold at P25 per liter.
Petition
Barrit said that when former Cebu City councilor Augustus Pe Jr. filed the petition seeking for a P7 minimum jeepney fare, the price of diesel was still P37 per liter.
Barrit said it is but proper for LTFRB to further cut the minimum fare to P5, which was the rate when diesel was at P29 per liter several years ago. The reduction of minimum fare will benefit the workers in Central Visayas, particularly in Cebu.
“If that is the case, then I will have to withdraw my petition. What is important is for the common good,” Pe told Sun.Star Cebu when asked for his comment.
Meanwhile, LTO 7 Director Arnel Tancinco said the refusal of the jeepney drivers to give 20 percent discounts to senior citizens, students and person with disabilities (PWDs) is a crime.
Tancinco said the fine as provided for under JAO 2014-001 is P1,000 for the erring driver and a bigger amount of P5,000 for the jeepney operator. - By Elias O. Baquero / SunStar
LTFRB 7 Acting Director Rey Elnar made the appeal after receiving reports that some jeepney drivers still collect not only P7.50, which was the previous official rate, but P8 because they would not give the P0.50 change.
Elnar said that once a passenger will file a complaint and submit the jeepney plate number, they will immediately summon the driver as well as the operator who will be both penalized under the Joint Administrative Order (JAO) 2014-001.
The order was jointly issued by the LTFRB, represented by Chairman Winston Gines; Land Transportation Office (LTO), represented by Assistant Secretary Alfonso Tan Jr.; and Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), represented by Secretary Antonio Abaya last year.
It provides the penalties for overcharging at P5,000 for the first offense, P10,000 for the second offense and P15,000 plus suspension of the certificate of public convenience (franchise) for the third offense.
Gines said the operators should make sure that their drivers have followed the new fare rate, as they will also be made answerable for the offense of their drivers.
On the other hand, Arthur Barrit of the Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines said the labor group will file a new petition seeking for a P5 or P6 minimum fare rate because the price of diesel, as of yesterday, was already sold at P25 per liter.
Petition
Barrit said that when former Cebu City councilor Augustus Pe Jr. filed the petition seeking for a P7 minimum jeepney fare, the price of diesel was still P37 per liter.
Barrit said it is but proper for LTFRB to further cut the minimum fare to P5, which was the rate when diesel was at P29 per liter several years ago. The reduction of minimum fare will benefit the workers in Central Visayas, particularly in Cebu.
“If that is the case, then I will have to withdraw my petition. What is important is for the common good,” Pe told Sun.Star Cebu when asked for his comment.
Meanwhile, LTO 7 Director Arnel Tancinco said the refusal of the jeepney drivers to give 20 percent discounts to senior citizens, students and person with disabilities (PWDs) is a crime.
Tancinco said the fine as provided for under JAO 2014-001 is P1,000 for the erring driver and a bigger amount of P5,000 for the jeepney operator. - By Elias O. Baquero / SunStar
Sunday, January 11, 2015
LTFRB - Central Visayas approves 50-cent fare cut
CEBU -- Minimum jeepney fares in Central Visayas will go down to P7 after a new order from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)-Central Visayas is published.
But two business leaders urged transport operators and LTFRB to consider bringing the minimum fare down to P6, to reflect the continuing drop in fuel prices.
LTFRB Board Member Antonio Enrile Inton Jr. informed Sun.Star Cebu on Sunday that a copy of the order resetting the fare rates will be presented today, January 12.
He urged the LTFRB-Central Visayas and law enforcement agencies, including the Land Transportation Office (LTO), to implement strictly the discounts for senior citizens and students.
In recent years when the P7.50 provisional minimum fare was implemented, some drivers overcharged by collecting P8 and refusing to grant the mandatory discounts. (The minimum fare covers the first five kilometers.)
Businesswoman Teresa Chan, president of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), said that the minimum fare must be P6.50 -- or P6, if possible -- because the price of diesel is now P28.75 per liter and may further decrease in the next few days.
“We are concerned about this matter because this can help our employees a lot. While P5 may not be feasible, considering the operational costs, we hope our jeepney operators and drivers will help the riding public, the majority of our population who are wage earners, by offering P6,” Chan said.
In a separate interview, spokesperson Art Barrit of the Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines said he doesn’t “see the logic of the LTFRB in granting a reduction of only P0.50. It’s an agency that is faster to increase but slower to decrease fares.”
Annabelle dela Serna, regional coordinator of the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition, said any fare rollback will be much appreciated and help the riding public.
“Considering the continuous rollback in diesel prices, it is but proper to lower also the fare,” Dela Serna said.
Businessman Robert Go, chairman of the Economic Development Committee of the Regional Development Council (EDC-RDC), said jeepney fares must be lowered to P5 since the price of diesel has gone down to P28.45 and may keep dropping.
The minimum fare was P5 when the price of diesel was P29 per liter several years ago.
“Our inflation was lowest last quarter in years and the prices of basic goods are expected to go down. Seven pesos as minimum fare is still too high and should further go down to at least P6, as a compromise if jeepney operators argue about the prices of spare parts, tires, among others,” Go said.
He said that P6 would be a good compromise. (EOB/Sun.Star Cebu)
But two business leaders urged transport operators and LTFRB to consider bringing the minimum fare down to P6, to reflect the continuing drop in fuel prices.
LTFRB Board Member Antonio Enrile Inton Jr. informed Sun.Star Cebu on Sunday that a copy of the order resetting the fare rates will be presented today, January 12.
He urged the LTFRB-Central Visayas and law enforcement agencies, including the Land Transportation Office (LTO), to implement strictly the discounts for senior citizens and students.
In recent years when the P7.50 provisional minimum fare was implemented, some drivers overcharged by collecting P8 and refusing to grant the mandatory discounts. (The minimum fare covers the first five kilometers.)
Businesswoman Teresa Chan, president of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), said that the minimum fare must be P6.50 -- or P6, if possible -- because the price of diesel is now P28.75 per liter and may further decrease in the next few days.
“We are concerned about this matter because this can help our employees a lot. While P5 may not be feasible, considering the operational costs, we hope our jeepney operators and drivers will help the riding public, the majority of our population who are wage earners, by offering P6,” Chan said.
In a separate interview, spokesperson Art Barrit of the Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines said he doesn’t “see the logic of the LTFRB in granting a reduction of only P0.50. It’s an agency that is faster to increase but slower to decrease fares.”
Annabelle dela Serna, regional coordinator of the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition, said any fare rollback will be much appreciated and help the riding public.
“Considering the continuous rollback in diesel prices, it is but proper to lower also the fare,” Dela Serna said.
Businessman Robert Go, chairman of the Economic Development Committee of the Regional Development Council (EDC-RDC), said jeepney fares must be lowered to P5 since the price of diesel has gone down to P28.45 and may keep dropping.
The minimum fare was P5 when the price of diesel was P29 per liter several years ago.
“Our inflation was lowest last quarter in years and the prices of basic goods are expected to go down. Seven pesos as minimum fare is still too high and should further go down to at least P6, as a compromise if jeepney operators argue about the prices of spare parts, tires, among others,” Go said.
He said that P6 would be a good compromise. (EOB/Sun.Star Cebu)
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