Villarete: Regular airport employees to stay

CEBU, Philippines - No permanent employees of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority will be dismissed from service in the implementation of the airport’s Public-Private Partnership Project.

MCIAA General Manager Nigel Paul Villarete has made the clarification following “confusing and misleading reports” suggesting that permanent airport employees will lose their jobs because of the PPP project, which was recently awarded to the GMR-Megawide Consortium, the winning bidder.

“I would like to reiterate my consistent statements in all of the press conferences and media interviews that no MCIAA permanent employees will be displaced, dismissed, terminated, fired, or will otherwise lose their job in the course of the implementation of the MCIAA Project,” said Villarete in a statement.

Section 12 of Republic Act 6958, otherwise known as the “Charter of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority,” provides that the Authority and its officials and employees shall be subject to the Civil Service Law and its rules and regulations.

Villarete said in the case of the PPP agreement, the Civil Service Laws and all Civil Service Commission  Rules and Regulations will be strictly observed, followed and implemented.

“MCIAA, its Board of Directors, and Management will not violate any of the laws, rules and regulations, of the Republic of the Philippines, especially those that protect the rights of government employees under the Constitution,” he assured.

The Concession Agreement stipulates that MCIAA will provide the list of employees to the con cessionaire within 60 days from signing.

No later than 90 days from signing date, the concessionaire shall make offers of employment to each of the MCIAA employees involved in Terminal 1 operations, under such terms and conditions, and with levels of compensation and associated benefits, as the concessionaire shall deem proper.

No later than 120 days from signing date, the concessionaire shall execute employment agreements with each of the MCIAA employees involved in Terminal 1 operations who accepts the offer of employment from the concessionaire.

The concessionaire has the right to make offers to any employee and each employee being offered has all the right to accept or reject the offer.

Villarete said the MCIAA will continue to function in accordance with its charter and mandate after the PPP agreement will be enforced, and it will continue to maintain its plantilla of employees in accordance to CSC laws, rules and regulations.

“I sincerely hope this will clarify this issue and appeal to the members of media not to print or broadcast misleading statements in your news reports as these unduly cause confusion, apprehensions, and demoralization among the employees,” added Villarete. — /ATO (FREEMAN)