Senator Nancy Binay on Monday, September 6, said the government should help the nation’s flag carrier, Philippine Air Lines (PAL), weather through its financial setbacks by setting in place mechanisms to alleviate their circumstances while they go about their restructuring plans.

For one, Binay said that instead of payment deferrals, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) can make take-off, landing and parking fees for the local airlines free of charge while the government has yet to make any clear or concrete programs to help the entire aviation industry.

“Kahit paano, malaking tulong na yun (That would be a big help somehow). This is how economic patriotism works in time of pandemic. Pilipino muna (Filipinos first),” said Binay, who chairs the Senate committee on tourism.

The senator also said the Department of Tourism (DOT) can help PAL disseminate information that operations of the nation’s flag carrier continue despite the onslaught of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and its negative effects to the airline industry.

She noted that PAL’s announcement of filing for bankruptcy in the United States in a bid to restructure and reorganize its finances to be able to navigate the “new normal” amid the pandemic has caused concern among local and foreign travelers.

“Baka kasi isipin ng marami, lalo na yung mga kababayan natin abroad, na di na sila pwedeng mag-book ng byahe sa PAL (People may think—especially our fellowmen abroad—that they can no longer book flights with PAL),” she pointed out.

“Being the Philippines' flag-carrier, perhaps DOT can help correct any misinformation, and tell Pinoys and foreign travelers that there's nothing to worry and they can continue to fly PAL,” the lawmaker pointed out.

Binay said she is banking on PAL to be able to weather through the challenges of the pandemic even after filing for bankruptcy protection in the United States.

“Just to be clear, Chapter 11 bankruptcy stops debt collection which gives PAL some breathing space as far as its financial obligations are concerned,” she pointed out.

“I believe PAL already made a statement na walang nagbago sa operations nila (that nothing changed in their operations), and even assured everyone that the matter on bankruptcy is for purposes of financial restructuring precisely because the pandemic has badly hit the airline industry--travel is limited, and tourism is yet to normalize. But this is only temporary,” she said.