Guingona: RP must stand firm in air talks with US

Vice President Teofisto Guingona urged yesterday the Philippine panel in air talks with the United States to push for reciprocity and the protection of the national interest.

Speaking at a forum on open skies at the Dusit Hotel in Makati, Guingona said negotiations on air access must be based on passenger load, tonnage and traffic, and not just the number of flights.

The Philippines had always been at a disadvantage in past negotiations for air access for foreign carriers flying into the country. The private sector was not represented in the present negotiating panel, he added.

In the talks, the US is asking for a "complete open skies" on passengers, third country carrier code sharing and/or the same country carrier code sharing, and the open skies policy on cargo with seventh freedom rights.

Under the Philippine-US Air Transport Agreement, restrictions on capacity, frequency and route of flights would be lifted by Oct. 1, unless the two countries agree on new terms.

The Philippines is asking for a 15-year postponement of the lifting of the restriction. The Philippines and the US started negotiations for a new air transport agreement yesterday.

About a thousand PAL employees protested in front of the Hyatt Hotel Manila, where the three-day air talks are going on.

Ed Oredina, chairman of the PAL Employees Association mobilization committee, said the "open skies" policy will result in losses and eventual closure of local airlines. – Marianne Go, Rainer Allan Ronda