Following the magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck Davao, Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez has requested that local airlines waive rebooking and cancellation fees for all passengers affected by the seismic event.
This action aligns with the directive from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who has called upon all government agencies to implement immediate, unified measures to assist those impacted by the earthquake.
In an advisory issued through the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), the agency strongly urged airlines to adopt flexible and compassionate passenger accommodation measures. These measures include:
Waiving fees for rebooking and cancellation.
Expediting full refunds for tickets.
Allocating free cargo space to support urgent humanitarian and relief efforts, subject to the airlines’ operational and safety limitations.
Acting Secretary Lopez extended his sincere gratitude to the local airlines for their unwavering support of the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) mission to accelerate the delivery of critical aid to the quake-hit areas.
“The DOTr thanks our airlines for their full support in alleviating the suffering of our countrymen due to the earthquake,” Secretary Lopez stated. “This is a huge help not only for the affected passengers but also for the residents who will immediately receive aid.”
The DOTr continues to coordinate closely with the CAB, airlines, and other government agencies to ensure that transportation-related assistance and relief operations are carried out swiftly and safely.
