MANILA,
Philippines [UPDATED] - The terminal fee paid by international airline passengers at
Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) will revert to P750, according to Transportation Secretary Mar Roxas.
Roxas said the fees will go help augment the day-to-day operational costs at the country's main gateway.
This announcement by Roxas comes weeks after the the
Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) reduced the terminal fee to P550 from P750 on February 1.
The MIAA collected additional P200 as part of its acquisition program for surveillance cameras and x-ray machines that could detect drugs, bomb explosives and organic materials.
The 5-year security program ended in February.
Authority?Roxas, however, said the imposition of a lower terminal fee is just "temporary."
“The authorization has an expiry. It is expected that the old fee will be imposed again. That’s being processed right now, ” said Roxas, adding that MIAA is reapplying for an increased fee.
Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and senior citizens are exempted from paying the terminal fee.
Fees in airline tickets
Roxas also said they have a plan to incorporate the terminal fee in all domestic tickets similar to what is being practiced in other countries.
“In the
Philippines, the terminal fee is not included in the ticket price because airlines do not want to administer exemptions for terminal fee, ” he said.
“There are already ongoing discussions with the MIAA and the airlines for a seamless collection of terminal fees, starting with domestic ticket holders, ” said Roxas, adding that this could be implemented in the next 6 months.
Rappler.com 
