Government asked to go slow on ‘open skies’

A new movement, called Save Our Skies or SOS, is urging the government to go slow on its plan to liberalize the air transport industry.

SOS, which comprises the Network of Independent Travel Agencies (NITAS) and the Phillippine Tour Operators Association (PhilTOA), suggested a progressive liberalization which would give the government enough time to install certain safety nets.

According to Robert Lim Joseph Jr., acting spokesman for SOS, a progressive liberalization is the gradual and rational expansion of air routes on the basis of market demand on a country-by-country and route-by-route basis, subject to reciprocity.

Progressive liberalization is the model followed by most progressive countries in Asia and Europe, SOS claims.

"There is no timetable so urgent as to render the obvious negative effects of hasty liberalization acceptable," Joseph said, adding that the "SOS movement is not against liberalization. In fact, we believe that the liberalization will be good for the economy and will benefit the Filipino businessman and consumer."

One thing that needs to be done before full and complete liberalization, Joseph said, is the provision of a safety net to ease the impact of liberalization, specially in the area of employment.

SOS stressed that government must come up with options on how to best implement liberalization in civil aviation without forcing the closure of domestic carriers.

Joseph said SOS would rather have a "fair skies" policy than an "open skies" policy.