BOHOL 3rd District Congw. Kristine Alexie Besas Tutor appeared not contented when Department of Transportation (DoTR) caused the reducing terminal and landing fees, instead of suspending them, still creates a gap, though, she is grateful for the move.
“While DOTR merely reduced instead of suspending terminal fees, the inclusion of reducing landing fees made up for some of the gap,” she said.
She said that the reduced terminal and landing fees will take effect on April 1 as it “gives everyone concerned time to make the adjustments needed at the terminals and airports.”
She hopes for these measures will ease burdens on businesses and commuters, and stave off price hikes due to higher transport costs. She still insists that DoTR should be open to a complete suspension of terminal fees and landing fees.
Tutor urged the national government to immediately halt all airports and seaports’ terminal fees nationwide and petroleum excise tax, respectively, to abate the soaring oil prices as a result to on-going middle east conflict.
The call for immediate measures to ease oil prices was short of including the suspension of value-added-tax (VAT) imposed on petroleum products and terminal fees.
Tutor warns that “If the government does not act quickly, the tourism sector will suffer, along with countless micro, small, and medium enterprises that depend on vacationers., adding that every delay means jobs lost and livelihood at risk.”
She stressed that “fewer tourists on the move will mean heavy losses for many MSMEs in the provinces this summer.”
Tutor is the chairperson of Globalization and World Trade Organization committee of the HoR. (Ric Obedencio)
