Greener pastures fuel exodus of PH air traffic controllers

The House of Representatives Independent Bloc urged yesterday the Aquino government to review the salary structure of the country's air traffic controllers after the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) revealed that the country is losing three percent of regular traffic controllers annually because they are among the lowest-paid in the world.

Independent Bloc Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez said the government should provide attractive salary and package of compensation benefits to air traffic controllers who have been leaving the country for better pay abroad.

“Now is the time to review their (air traffic controllers) salary structure and package of benefits to prevent them from leaving their work for greener pastures abroad. We have to do something to retain the most skilled personnel by giving them the best compensation at par with their competence,” he said.

“Their excellent talent would help us prevent an air tragedy waiting to happen because of horrible traffic congestion in Manila airport,” he added.

CAAP spokesman Eric Apolonio said that annually, the country is losing three percent of the 450 regular air traffic controllers because of better compensation package abroad.

Air traffic controllers here, Apolonio said, receive the equivalent of US$1,000 a month, while offers from other countries average US$10,000 monthly.

Romualdez also proposed that Sangley Point in Cavite and the Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) in Pampanga be tapped to address the air traffic congestion hounding the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

Romualdez earlier recounted his near-death experience on Monday night last week when the private plane they boarded were ordered to circle around the dangerous Sierra Madre Mountains, especially in Infanta and Polilio Islands, Quezon because of air traffic congestion. (Charissa M. Luci)