Govt to use 'persuasive measures' to fix PAL row

The government is resorting to "persuasive influence" to resolve the brewing row between the Philippine Airlines management and some of its pilots. Presidential Communications Group official Herminio Coloma said that with these persuasive efforts the government hopes to convince the parties to put national interest above all else. "Ginagamit ang persuasive influence ng pamahalaan on both parties para makita nila the greater public interest that transcends the corporate interest. Ang kanilang serbisyo nakakaapekto ng napakaraming mamamayan. We are appealing to their sense of civic duty ," he said in an interview on dzXL radio. (Government will use persuasive influence on both parties so they will realize the greater public interest transcends corporate interests. Their work affects majority of Filipinos. So we are appealing to their sense of civic duty.) While he did not elaborate, he said the government wants to convince both sides to sit down and thresh out matters. "Ang ginagawa ng gobyerno, persuasive measures para sila mag-usap at magkaroon ng unawaan," he said. PAL was forced to cancel several international and domestic flights last weekend after the pilots who had resigned – without giving prior notice – did not show up for work. On Monday, Palace officials met with PAL management, but failed to meet with the pilots, who resigned for better pay in other airlines. Coloma said secretaries Jose de Jesus (transportation), Rosalinda Baldoz (labor) and Leila de Lima (justice) continue to work out a dialogue. "Nabalitaan ko sisikapin nila pagharapin ang pag-conduct ng dialogue between PAL management at piloto sa araw na ito (They are trying to work out a dialogue between PAL management and the pilots within today)," he said. Govt not helpless On the other hand, Coloma said the government is not helpless in the situation, and that it has many options to deal with the problem. "We have options. We are exploring all options and contingency measures. We do not want the situation to worsen," he said. On Tuesday, PAL claimed its operations are “back to normal" even as it announced a reduction of its flights due to the resignation of more than 20 of its pilots. PAL president Jaime Bautista said larger aircraft will be used to fly to some destinations to accommodate passengers affected by flight cancellations. It added around 160 daily domestic and international flights continue to “operate normally and as scheduled." — LBG, GMANews.TV