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Malacañang allayed fears that its “open skies” policy would be detrimental to the local airline industry saying the contents of the Executive Order was studied carefully to “put forward our reform agenda.”

In a press briefing in Malacañang on Monday, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said the soon-to-be-released EO would protect local carriers once enforced.

“What we’d like to assure everybody is that the contents of the EO on the government’s open skies policy were studied carefully and it is not a product of something that happened on a whim or caprice. So, we believe that this will put forward our reform agenda,” Valte said.

“(And) knowing the officials who were behind the drafting of that EO, they would make sure that the local carriers would be protected,” she added.

Under the EO, foreign carriers will be allowed to service domestic routes and fly into such airports as those found in the provinces of Cebu, Davao, Zamboanga and Laoag.

According to President Benigno S. Aquino III, once implemented, the policy is expected to further boost the country’s tourism industry and the economy.

The President on Thursday led the awarding ceremonies for Cebu Pacific’s 50 millionth passenger at the departure lounge of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 in Pasay City.

During the event, he assured players of the local carriers that opening the country’s sky to international aviation industry will definitely provide opportunities for them that will redound to further boost the country’s tourism industry and the economy.

“I am aware of the concerns of our local carriers and I can assure you that as we liberalize aviation, it will be undertaken in a way that will open up opportunities for competitive and world class domestic carriers like the Cebu Pacific,” the President said.

He added that once the open sky policy is implemented, local carriers would benefit from it because more visitors from the neighboring countries will be coming in.

“Once implemented, we expect more international airlines to enter the market. Aside from opening our doors to more visitors that will strengthen our tourism, this will also allow us to enjoy a free market for products to further boost our economy. This, of course, will redound to thousands of additional jobs, which in turn will provide decent living to many Filipino families,” he said. (PNA)

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