Reportedly, the Philippine government through the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Secretary Mar Roxas has issued a Letter of Intent aimed at suspending overtime pays to Customs, Immigration, and Quarantine (CIQ) officers that the latter has been charging airlines management in decades. It can be concluded based on the report of Philippine Star that the government initiative to suspend overtime pay was a dutiful response to the Board of Airline Representatives (BAR) inquiry addressed to the government to look into the possible corruption or malversation of public funds.
What is that again? Does it mean that BAR is only concerned for the possible corruption of public funds and thus motivated them to address their concern to the president?
Much for the Filipinos concern, BAR has opposed for this “tradition” over a decade! What are they trying to say? Are they implying that they were already fed up by being a “milking cow” for over a decade?
In my point of view, conclusively, had BAR or airlines companies long been aiming at high return of investment (ROI) yet at low cost of production, which they had never realized ever in Philippine soil? Definitely, this is pure business. But, what about the social responsibility and accountability of private business entities toward the citizens of the country their businesses has either booming or failing at so far?
What might be the reason why DOTC suspended overtime payments?
In a report of the Daily Tribune, DOTC Secretary Manuel Roxas II, according to him, “BAR cited the government for coming up with a holistic and integrated solution to this concern which is a step toward improving the business climate for air transport in the Philippines.” So, as that statement went, I would presume that Aquino administration was not only “obeying”, nor was the government “favoring” to the private corporations but also was taking a bold stride to providing service the best as it could!
As far as my opinion is concerned, consistently, it can not be denied that while Aquino administration is giving an attentive ear to the private business sector, it, oftentimes, has turned a deaf, insensitive ear to the clamor of the masses, to the cry of the farmers, and to the desperate call of the Filipinos for a decent living. It was also reported that the government would only implement a 24/7 shift of operation to avoid overtime. So, by this, is it reasonable to suspend overtime payment charged to airlines company?
Was the government response to suspending overtime pay unlawful or unfaithful?
The Supreme Court affirmed the legality of that provision of Commonwealth Act No. 613 in the consolidated case of Carbonilla v. Board of Airlines Representative (G.R. 193247) and Office of the President v. BAR (G.R. 194276)… Continue
Originally posted on Philippine Review.
