IN a public hearing held by the Senate Committee on Tourism on Wednesday, June 21, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go has taken on the cudgels of passengers expressing their concerns regarding the growing number of complaints against airlines, particularly those involving Cebu Pacific.
“Let me share with you my observation, not as a senator but as an ordinary Filipino. First, gusto ko po ipaalam na malaki po ang tiwala ko sa Cebu Pacific. In fact, suki po ako ng Cebu Pacific pag umuuwi po ako ng Davao o Mindanao,” shared Go.
“Many times, on time naman po ang Cebu Pacific, may pagkakataon nga po, ina-announce po nila na na ahead of time po sila… and for this I commend them,” he added.
While commending Cebu Pacific for their continuing service, Go stressed that the frequency of delayed or cancelled flights has become a growing concern lately.
“However, nitong nakaraan, madalas talaga ang reports na delayed o cancelled ang flights. Gusto ko po iparating sa inyo ang sentimento ng ilang naglalakbay na ordinaryong Filipino katulad ko,” he added.
“In fact, even former president (Rodrigo) Duterte, naka-experience rin po siya ng delayed flight, o na-cancel from 5 o’clock, naging 9:30 yung flight just last Saturday,” he added.
He empathized with the plight of ordinary Filipino travelers who had to endure the exhaustion and waiting caused by delayed or canceled flights.
“Kawawa po yung kalagayan ng mga kababayan natin na pagod at naghihintay sa airport dahil sa delayed o cancelled flights. Ako mismo, nararanasan ko rin po yan na ma-delay ang flight,” he said.
Go shared his own experience of flight delays, including a recent incident where he received a boarding time notification on his cellphone, only to find out upon arrival that the airplane had not yet arrived.
“For instance, nung Sabado lang, papuntang Maynila, naka-receive tayo bigla ng advisory – iba po itong picture, ito po yung nag-birthday ako, midnight noong June 14, first time po ako nakapag-celebrate ng birthday, 12 o’clock mismo sa eroplano,” said Go.
He continued, “Iba naman yung nangyari nung Sabado na mayroon akong flight na 11:25PM, na matatanggap mo sa cellphone na 10:40PM yung boarding time. So ibig sabihin, magre-ready ka na. Then all of a sudden, kapag nasa pinto ka na, sasabihin sayo na hindi pa dumadating ang eroplano.”
“Bakit po ganon? Iba yung sinasabi sa online na advisory na andiyan na ang eroplano, then yung totoo, wala pa ang eroplano… Dapat ay bigyan ng maayos na impormasyon ang mga kababayan natin,” he added.
Go also highlighted the inconveniences faced by passengers during the waiting period inside the plane.
“Meron din akong nakitang video na naka-landing na ang eroplano, galit na galit po yung mga pasahero kasi hindi pa ready ang tube service. Ibig sabihin, kahit madaling araw na… hindi pa ready yung tube service, 15 minutes silang nakatayo hawak yung mga bagahe nila, at nakatayo naghihintay,” he said.
“Kawawa naman po yung iba sa kanila, puyat pa. Meron din pong pagkakataon na matagal ang taxiing, walang aircon sa loob ng eroplano at init na init na ang mga pasahero,” added Go as he expressed concern for the health and well-being of passengers, particularly children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.
He also emphasized that these inconveniences could have severe consequences for overseas Filipino workers.
Delayed or cancelled flights may jeopardize their employment and livelihood, according to Go.