DOTC braces for 3-month disruption if strike hits PAL

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) is preparing contingency plans for a possible disruption of air travel services of up to three months if a strike hits flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL). DOTC Secretary Jose de Jesus admitted there will be a “real serious temporary disruption" because the other airlines that will be tapped to replace the routes that could be affected by a PAL strike could not change their schedules overnight. “Sasabihin ko na, kung mag-strike ang PAL, there will be a real serious temporary disruption dahil ang ibang airlines di agad maka-cover yan because all airlines, their aircraft, their assets, are deployed at the different routes and they cannot change those scheduling just overnight (I will admit, if a strike pushes through at PAL, there will be a real serious temporary disruption because other airlines that can be tapped to cover the void left by PAL cannot change their scheduling overnight)," De Jesus said in an interview on dwIZ radio. “They will have to make adjustments so magkakaroon ng disruption yan one to two to three months siguro bago magkaroon ng kaunting adjustment so the other airlines can cover the unserved routes PAL may not be able to serve in case they go on strike (They will have to make adjustments and there may be a disruption of up to three months before the other airlines can adjust to fill the void left by PAL)," he added. He said this is one reason why President Benigno Simeon Aquino III appealed to PAL and its workers to reach an agreement soon because of the serious consequences that may arise should they fail to do so. However, De Jesus said they are leaving it to PAL to resolve the issue with its pilots and flight attendants. “Nasa PAL na yan (It’s up to PAL), they will have to file cases and these cases will be heard, there will have to be due process," he said. Since early August, PAL was forced to adjust its flight schedules after pilots looking for greener pastures abroad abruptly stopped showing up for work. Flight attendants of PAL also threatened to strike over what they claimed were questionable work conditions, including an age limit of 40. The PAL management said it is working to resolve the issues with its workers soon. –VVP, GMANews.TV