Mar Roxas to PAL: With or without strike, set up contingency plan

Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Secretary Mar Roxas II instructed the country's flag carrier Philippine Airlines to set up a contingency plan, whether or not the planned strike of its ground crew pushes through. In a news release posted on the "Official Gazette" on Monday, Roxas said “With or without a strike, the contingency plan should be in place, ready to be deployed at moment’s notice." "We understand that the labor dispute presents a difficult problem both for PAL and PALEA (Philippine Airlines Employees Association), but it should not stand in the way of PAL’s commitment to serve the public," he said. Roxas said PAL should look into seeking help from its sister companies such as Airphil express, whose employees are not PALEA members. He also asked other local and domestic airlines to assist PAL when a work stoppage paralyzes the airline's operations. “In this situation, it is no longer a matter of one airline competing against each other. Disruption will not just put PAL in a bad light, but the entire Philippine air travel as well. Business rivalries end where duty to the public begins," Roxas said. - VVP, GMA News