Philippines pocket open skies policy under doubt

Philippines Ang Galing Pinoy party-list Representative Mikey Arroyo stated the Aquino administration should "revisit their data" and study whether an open skies policy is what carriers are asking for (GMANews.TV, 10-Jan-2011). Deputy Presidential Spokeswoman Abigail Valte denied that the delay in the issuance of the EO on open skies policy was caused by last-minute appeals from some groups opposing the scheme. President Benigno Aquino III's executive order to introduce a "pocket open skies policy" is still yet to be signed and is being reviewed by his legal team.

Ang Galing Pinoy: "It's not the number of airlines operating in the country that is behind the lacklustre performance of the tourism industry in the Philippines but the country's negative image abroad, especially in the area of peace and order and security". Party-list Rep. Mikey Arroyo. Source: GMANews.TV, 10-Jan-2011.