CAB urged to act on complaints filed by aviation stakeholders

The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), a government agency concerned with civil aviation, should make a report on issues and concerns that were brought before its office by affected sectors and the actions it has taken to address them.

This was the challenge made by SOS, a non-governmental organization (NGO) fighting for equitable air policies and fair trade, after noting the apparent inaction of the CAB on complaints and issues raised by aviation stakeholders.

"We have been raising several issues concerning civil aviation since 2001 yet we haven’t gotten a single rejoinder from the CAB," Robert Lim Joseph, SOS president, said. Joseph has been at the forefront of a campaign to promote and protect Philippine skies and tourism from predatory competition of foreign airlines and companies.

He said the apparent inaction by the CAB, which is under the Department of Transportation and Communications, is reflecting negatively on the Arroyo government and has raised questions on its ability and determination to protect Philippine industries.

Joseph said one major issue which has been raised by aviation stakeholders is the continued violation of Philippine laws by foreign cargo airlines operating in the country.

According to Joseph, foreign cargo carriers like Federal Express (FedEx), United Parcel Service (UPS) and DHL International are engaged in freight forwarding services even though they were not authorized by CAB.

He said these foreign cargo carriers have established themselves as integrators and logistic providers that deal directly with shippers and importers.

"These foreign cargo carriers are acting as cargo agents competing with local companies and doing retailing. They deal directly with clients, which should not be the case," he said.

Another complaint raised against these foreign cargo carriers was that they were engaged in 7th freedom flights, in violation of the RP-US Air Transport Agreement (ATA) of 1982.

Joseph recalled that even local airlines like Philippine Airlines (PAL) have filed complaints with the CAB on the foreign cargo carriers’ violation.

PAL has complained that American cargo carriers, particularly FedEx and UPS, fly from the Philippines to other countries without first passing through the United States, which is an exercise of 7th freedom.

"We haven’t heard any rejoinder from CAB about the local airlines’ complaints against these foreign cargo carriers," he said.