NEPA says open skies may lead to job loss

Philippines' National Economic Protectionism Association (NEPA) stated that an open skies policy would be detrimental to Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific, stating it is an "ill-thought and badly motivated executive order" (gmanews, 03-May-2011). President Benigno Aquino III recently signed Executive Orders 28 and 29, which opens the country's skies to more foreign carriers.

NEPA: "As correctly pointed out, Aquino's executive order opens the country's skies without any measure of reciprocal gesture from foreign countries. NEPA, too, does not advocate protectionism if it means protection of monopolies like the Philippine Airlines during the Marcos years," president Bayan de la Cruz. Source: gmanews, 03-May-2011.