The business community and some Dumaguete City officials are opposed to the proposed increase by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines of the airport terminal fee, from P30 to P150.

Raul Glorioso, chief of the Aerodrome Development and Management Service of CAAP, said in a public hearing in Dumaguete recently, that the proposed adjustment is in line with efforts to improve the airport and air navigation facilities.

But Edward Du, president of the Negros Oriental Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the abrupt increase in the terminal fee is too much.

He said the Cebu International Airport charges a P200 terminal fee but the services there are far better than in Dumaguete. He said increasing the fee to P100 would be fair enough.

Dumaguete City councilors Dan Teves-Leon and Nilo Sayson asked CAAP to present a detailed account on how it came up with the proposed P150 terminal fee.

Rodrigo Rodolfo Artuz, chair of CAAP, assured them the explanation will be provided through airport manager Veronica Chuang. He added that all suggestions will be presented to the CAAP Board of Directors before the proposed increase is approved.

Glorioso also said Republic Act 9497 authorizes the CAAP to implement adjustments in the terminal fee rate, to subsidize the expenses in the ongoing rehabilitation and improvements of airports nationwide.

The night landing operation of the Dumaguete Airport will soon be improved through the purchase of a voice logging system, the improvement of the inter-facility data communication, installation of vehicular parking lights, and purchase and installation of communication equipment, worth a total of more than P98 million, Glorioso said.

He added that they have designed a five-year development plan for the Dumaguete Airport to accommodate more passengers and to give better service.*MA

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