And you
just know that Change has really begun
Before
the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, The Philippine Air Lines has
owed the government unpaid obligations amounting to billion of pesos. And it
took a Duterte to be the president for it to be finally settled in favor of the
government.
The Department of Transportation, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines
and the Manila International Airport Authority in a joint press statement
issued that the Philippine Airlines settled today its outstanding debt to the
government amounting to P6 billion since the national flag carrier incurred the
arrears more than four decades ago.
 |
| The Tan led Philippine Airlines settles with the
Philippine government last month its outstanding balance due to its
unpaid navigational charges.(photo credit to owner) |
A check
amounting to P5.7 billion was turned over by lawyer Clara De Castro, PAL's vice
president for legal affairs, to the office of CAAP in Pasay while a separate
check worth P258.6 million was delivered to MIAA.
PAL's
payment of its unpaid air navigational charges, which ballooned since 1970's up
to July 30 2017, was made earlier than the December 2017 deadline, the
statement noted.
A few months ago, the
President had threatened to shut down Terminal 2 of the Ninoy Aquino
International Airport, which PAL has been exclusively using since 1999, if the
airline’s owner, business tycoon Lucio Tan, fails to pay his company’s
obligations.
DOTr
earlier said PAL’s unpaid navigational fees and other liabilities to the
government have so far reached P7.3 billion as of Sept. 26, 2017, payable to
the CAAP and MIAA.
Following
the president’s threats against the airline, the Tan-led company early last
month said it was ready to present a "compromise agreement" regarding
its unpaid charges, which the DOTr accepted.
“One of
the overriding reasons why PAL agreed to settle is to manifest its trust and
confidence in President Duterte's administration,” PAL and the DOTr said in a
joint statement last October 6.
“PAL
assured the government and the traveling public that it will continuously
provide its vital airline operations in the service of the Filipino people,”
they added. *
According to DOTr, letters were sent to the Lucio Tan-led airline
company upon the instructions of Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade as
early as August 2016 "demanding full payment of all unpaid
charges."
Malacañan in its statement regarding PAL’s payment "will go a
long way to help build much needed infrastructure to support our economic
capabilities."
"It is a clear reminder that when government prioritizes
national interest citizens will cooperate," Presidential Spokesman Ernesto
Abella said in a statement, last month.
report
from Philstar
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