The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
The Department of Transportation, led by Secretary Arthur P. Tugade, forged a pioneering cooperative agreement with leading Philippine carriers for the upkeep of Manila’s airport terminals.
Joining Tugade during the signing ceremony were Transporation Undersecretary for Aviation and Airports Roberto C.O. Lim, the Manila International Airport Authority’s General Manager Ed Monreal, Philippine Airlines (PAL) President and COO Jaime J. Bautista, Cebu Pacific’s President and CEO Lance Y. Gokongwei, Philippines AirAsia’s COO Capt. Dexter M. Comendador, PAL Express President Bonifacio U. Sam, Cebgo President and CEO Michael Ivan S. Shau, and Philippine Airport Ground Support Solutions AVP for Finance and Administration Leah de Guzman Jover.
Under the agreement, the Philippine carriers committed to undertake at no cost to the government the maintenance and upkeep of public restrooms at the four terminals under the management of the MIAA.
Tugade is confident that the complaints of the general riding public regarding the condition of public restrooms at the main gateway of the Philippines will be addressed by raising the facilities to international standards.
He emphasized that this move is in line with the working principles of the Duterte administration—that is, consultation, cooperation and mutual trust between the government and the private sector.
Tugade said these guidelines bore fruit with the signing of the agreement. He hopes that the government and the private sector could explore other areas of cooperation for the betterment of the country.