Palace rejects MIASCOR’s appeal to reconsider contract termination

FILE: Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. ( YANCY LIM/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO)

MANILA — Malacanang on Sunday turned down an appeal of aviation services provider MIASCOR since the lease and concession agreement of the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) with MIASCOR has already expired.

“There is nothing to appeal as government has no existing contract with MIASCOR Groundhandling Corporation,” Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque reacted in a press statement.

Last week, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered MIAA to terminate its contract with MIASCOR due to many cases of pilferage including returning overseas Filipino worker (OFW) whose luggage and boxes have been pilfered at the Clark International Airport.

In response, MIAA General Manager Ed Monreal has informed MIASCOR that the lease and concession agreement which expired last March 31, 2017 “shall no longer be renewed.”

MIASCOR had said it will appeal to the President to reconsider his directive on behalf of its 4,000 regular employees.

“In light of the recent directive of the President, the position of the MIAA is not to renew the contracting following its expiration because of many cases/instances of pilferage, both in the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and Clark International Airport,” Roque explained.

“We have to look at the bigger picture: Our national interest is of paramount importance. In particular, we need to protect airport travelers from baggage theft, especially OFWs who work so hard to earn a living, and to make sure that potential tourists and investors are not turned off by such incidents at the airport,” he added.

Roque said “qualified” personnel of MIASCOR will be absorbed by other existing service provider.

“The fact is the jobs are there so these will be filled up either by new hires or qualified staff from MIASCOR,” he said.

Roque said the airport authorities have assured the traveling public that services at the airports will not be disrupted by the termination of MIASCOR.